TOPEKA, Kan. – No. 3-seed Rogers State softball (42-10) walked off No. 6-seed Missouri Western (36-19) in the 11th inning of a wild 6-5 thriller in the opening round of the MIAA Tournament on Wednesday.
 
The Hillcats wasted no time as they jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. After Nicole Price singled to center, she would later come around to score on a throwing error by the shortstop with Abbey Rogers reaching first on the play. Lana Gass later laced a ball up the middle to score both Rogers and Callie Yellin.
 
The Griffons answered back with two runs in the top of the second to cut the deficit 3-2. A fielder's choice scored the first run with a throwing error by the second baseman scoring the second run during the same play.
 
RSU added a run in the home half of the third to go back up 4-2 thanks to a solo blast by Rogers to straightaway center.
 
MWSU responded in kind in the top of the fourth to tie the game at 4-4 with a two-run homer of their own to center.
 
From there the game devolved into a pitcher's duel with neither pitching staff allowing a run over the final three frames of regulation, scattering a combined three hits, to force extra innings.
 
After an uneventful eighth inning, the Griffons broke the stalemate in the top of the ninth as a sacrifice fly to right gave them their first lead at 5-4.
 
Bridgett Morales came in clutch in the bottom half as she sent a pitch careening well over the centerfield wall to keep the game alive at 5-5.
 
With a scoreless 10th inning, Morales came up again in the bottom of the 11th with one out and blasted a ball to the right field corner for a double. Rogers again played hero as she walked the game off dropping a ball into center field to drive in Morales from second for the 6-5 victory.
 
Jade Sanders (16-5) earned the win working the final 7.1 innings out of the bullpen only allowing one run on five hits with seven strikeouts.
 
With the win, the Hillcats stay in the winner's bracket and will face off against No. 2-seed Missouri Southern in the late game of round two tomorrow. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.