EDMOND, Okla. – In a rematch of last season's NCAA Central Region Championship, No. 8 Rogers State softball (10-4) came up short in a 5-3 game against No. 24 Southern Arkansas (9-3) in the finale of the Raising Canes Invitational on Sunday.
 
The Muleriders got off to a quick start as they launched a first pitch home run to center to start the game with a 1-0 lead.
 
RSU answered back in the bottom of the second tying things at 1-1. Brooke Nauman drove in Kylee Lyon with a double down the left field line.
 
SAU retook the lead 2-1 in the top of the fourth, adding a run. A full count, leadoff homer to left center scored the run.
 
The Hillcats rallied in the bottom of the sixth to take their first lead at 3-2, pushing across two runs. Lyon got in on the leadoff bomb action as she unloaded on a 2-1 pitch, sending it soaring over the left center field wall. Bridgett Morales later brought home Bobbi Leitha with a single to left.
 
The Muleriders responded in the top of the seventh to tie things up again at 3-3. The tying run scored on a single to center.
 
In the top of the eighth, SAU brought in two runs to take a 5-3 lead. A sacrifice fly to right plated the first run with a double to right center scoring the final run.
 
Unfortunately, RSU went quietly in the bottom half to hand Southern Arkansas the win.
 
Corie Byrd (2-1) earned the win. Sara Llamas-Howell (5-2) took the loss.
 
The Hillcats will be back in action on Wednesday, Feb. 21 as they close out the season-opening road trip with a stop in Russellville, Ark. as they face off against Arkansas Tech in a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.