CLAREMORE, Okla. – No. 8 Rogers State softball (31-6, 10-4 MIAA) took down Northwest Missouri (20-20, 5-11 MIAA) in a doubleheader sweep to wrap up the 4-0 homestand on Saturday.
 
GAME ONE – RSU 8, NWMSU 0 (5 innings)
 
In the first game of the day, the Hillcats wasted no time taking an early 1-0 lead in the first inning. Paxton Donaldson waited out a four-pitch lead off walk to start things. Nicole Price put runners in scoring position with a double to left center. Abbey Rogers brought in Donaldson with a groundout to the shortstop.
 
They added two more runs in the second to go up 3-0. Jaylan Gibson singled to right center to lead off the frame. Ashtyn Barrett brought her in with a double to right center. Donaldson returned the favor as she plated Barrett with a single to center.
 
RSU exploded for five runs in the bottom of the fifth to claim the 8-0 win. Chelsea Spain led off the inning with a single to right center. Donaldson moved her to second with a groundout to third. Samantha Farris scored Spain with a single down the left field line with Nicole Price re-entering the game to run for Farris. Rogers brought in Price with a double to right center, and was then pinch run for by Natalie Gonzalez. Callie Yellin plated Gonzalez with a single through the right side of the infield. A single and a full count walk loaded the bases. Lana Gass walked the game off with a worm burner up the middle that scored both Yellin and Gibson.
 
Sara Llamas-Howell (15-1) earned the complete game shutout scattering four hits with five strikeouts. Jadyn Streigle (9-7) took the loss.
 
GAME TWO – RSU 7, NWMSU 1
 
The second game also saw the Hillcats strike first with a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Paxton Donaldson singled to right to lead off the frame and then took second on a wild pitch. Abbey Rogers brought her in with a single to center.
 
They added another run in the third to go up 2-0. Chelsea Spain led off the inning with a triple down the right field line. Nicole Price brought her in with a sacrifice fly to left.
 
The Bearcats finally got on the board with a run in the top of the fourth to cut the deficit to 2-1. The run scored on a single to left.
 
RSU responded by pushing across four runs in the fourth to extend the lead to 6-1. Callie Yellin launched a no-doubter over the left center field wall to lead off the inning. Jaylan Gibson and Ashtyn Barrett both earned four-pitch walks, with Marissa Smith pinch running for Barrett. Spain launched her own two-run blast just over the left center field wall. Donaldson then was issued a 3-1 walk. Bridgett Morales later plated her with a single up the middle.
 
The Hillcats tacked on one final run in the sixth inning to seal the 7-1 win. Spain scored on a bases loaded walk to Bobbi Leitha.
 
Jade Sanders (11-2) earned the win working 5.0 innings scattering five hits without allowing an earned run with five strikeouts. Courtney Hill also had an excellent showing coming out of the bullpen for the final two innings, refusing to allow a hit with one strikeout. Breck Dickey (5-9) took the loss.
 
RSU will close out the non-conference portion of the schedule on Tuesday, April 11 as they travel to Rolla, Mo. for a doubleheader against Missouri S&T. First pitch is set for 1:30 p.m.