CONROE, Texas – No. 19 Rogers State softball (3-1) won two close games against Colorado Mesa (1-2) and Midwestern State (1-3) on the second day of the D2 First Pitch Invitational on Saturday.
 
GAME 1 – RSU 4, CMU 3
 
In the first game of the day, the Hillcats wasted no time getting on the board as they took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Lana Gass led off the game with a solo shot to left field to open the game.
 
RSU added a run in the second inning to go up 2-0. Gass again brought in a run, this time earning a bases loaded walk to plate Ashtyn Barrett.
 
After three scoreless frames, the Hillcats increased their lead with two more insurance runs in the top of the sixth to go up 4-0. A sacrifice fly from Kaylee Lyon brought in Callie Yellin. Marissa Smith later stole home as part of a double steal with Chelsea Spain for the other run.
 
The Mavericks finally got on the board in the bottom half to cut the lead down to 4-1. A RBI single up the middle scored the run from third.
 
Colorado Mesa attempted one final comeback in the bottom of the seventh. After two quick outs to start the frame, an infield single to short put a runner at first. A double to right center plated the first run. A single through the left side of the infield brought in another run to cut the deficit to 4-3. Thankfully, RSU was able to force a line out to short to end the game and secure the win.
 
Jade Sanders (1-0) earned the win working the final 4.0 innings in relief allowing seven hits and three earned runs with a strikeout. Sara Llamas-Howell was excellent in her scoreless 3.0 inning start only allowing one hit with five strikeouts. Christa Zagala (1-1) suffered the loss.
 
GAME 2 – RSU 2, MSU 1 (9 innings)
 
The second was the complete opposite as it was an old-fashioned pitchers' duel with neither pitching staff allowing a run in the first eight innings. Over those frames, the Hillcats scattered five hits with eight runners stranded while the Mustangs scattered four hits with six runners stranded.
 
MSU broke the stalemate in the top of the ninth as they were able to push a run across to take a 1-0 lead. With a runner starting at second, back-to-back groundouts moved her around and scored her on a grounder back to the pitcher.
 
In the bottom of the ninth, Callie Yellin started the frame on second. With two outs, Chelsea Spain earned a 3-1 walk to put runners at first and second. Bobbi Leitha reached on a throwing error, allowing Yellin to score from second to tie the game and moved Spain to third. Lana Gass was hit by a pitch on a 1-2 count to load the bases. Spain walked the game off as she crossed home on a wild pitch to seal the 2-1 win.
 
Jade Sanders (2-0) again earned the win working the final 4.0 innings out of the bullpen, only allowing two hits and no earned runs with three strikeouts. Sara Llamas-Howell was also outstanding with a scoreless 5.0 inning start, only allowing just three hits with two strikeouts. Addison Lindemann (0-2) suffered the loss throwing all 8.2 innings.
 
The Hillcats will close out the tournament tomorrow with two final games against Angelo State and Regis. First pitch against the Rambelles is set for 10 a.m. with the game against the Rangers to follow at 12:15 p.m.