CLAREMORE, Okla. – No. 4 Rogers State softball (12-4) took care of business in the home opener with a doubleheader sweep of Missouri S&T (7-13) on Thursday.
 
Between games, Head Coach Andrea Vaughan was recognized as she recently passed Hillcat Hall of Fame Baseball Coach Ron Bradley to become the all-time winningest coach in RSU Athletics history with 287 career wins.
 
GAME 1 – RSU 5, MST 1
 
The Hillcats wasted no time busting the game open in the first inning with four runs off the bat to start with a 4-0 lead. Lana Gass got things started as she led off with a first pitch double down the left field line and then took third on a wild pitch. Kaylee Lyon drove her in with an infield single to short. Abbey Rogers unloaded on a 1-0 pitch for a three-run no-doubter over the left field fence, scoring Lyon and McKayla Carney.
 
The game devolved into a pitchers' duel from there as neither pitching staff allowed a run over the next four frames. The Miners managed to scatter eight hits and leave eight runners stranded in that span, while RSU left three runners stranded.
 
The Hillcats added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth to push out to a 5-0 lead. Bridgett Morales plated Bobbi Leitha from third with an infield single.
 
Missouri S&T finally got on the board in seventh with a run, but that would be all they got as RSU claimed the 5-1 win. The run scored on double to left.
 
Sara Llamas-Howell (6-2) earned the win in an outstanding 4.1 inning start as she scattered seven hits with nine strikeouts and no walks. Mayce Barber (1-4) took the loss.
 
GAME 2 – RSU 3, MST 0
 
In the second game of the day, Jade Sanders turned in a career performance in the circle as she tossed the eighth no-hitter in school history, the sixth at the Diamond Sports Complex.
 
After a scoreless first inning, the Hillcats got on the board with two runs. Callie Yellin singled up the middle on a 2-2 pitch to put a runner on with one out. Bridgett Morales reached on a seven-pitch walk. A wild pitch moved the runners into scoring position. Ashtyn Barrett drove them in with a single through the right side of the infield.
 
They added one final run in the bottom of the fifth to seal the 3-0 win. Barrett again came up big as she plated Yellin with a single to center.
 
Sanders (4-2) only needed 100 pitches to punch out 10 Miners and only gave up three walks. Charlye Rowland (3-3) took the loss.
The Hillcats will close out the four-game homestand on Saturday, March 2 as they play host to Rockhurst. First pitch is set for 12 p.m.