CLAREMORE, Okla. – No. 3 Rogers State softball (24-4, 8-0 MIAA) handled Missouri Southern (23-10, 3-3 MIAA) in a doubleheader sweep on Friday to begin the eight-game homestand.
 
With the two wins, Head Coach Andrea Vaughan is just one win away from her 300th career victory with a record of 299-153-1, looking to become the first Hillcat coach in any sport to reach that milestone.
 
GAME 1 – RSU 1, MSSU 0
 
The first game of the day was a classic pitchers' duel with neither starter allowing a run in the first inning.
 
The Hillcats pushed across the game's only run in the second inning to take a 1-0 lead. With two outs, McKayla Carney hit a single to center field on a 3-1 pitch. Kaylee Lyon then drove her in with a six-pitch double to right.
 
RSU managed to scatter three more hits and left four runners stranded across the remaining five innings.
 
Sara Llamas-Howell (12-2) earned the complete game shutout, only allowing one hit with eight strikeouts and only two walks. Kiki Pickens (7-4) took the loss.
 
GAME 2 – RSU 12, MSSU 0 (5 Innings)
 
The second game was the complete opposite as the Hillcats asserted their offensive dominance out of the gate with 10 runs in the first inning. Abbey Rogers got things started as she blasted a double off the wall in center field, scoring Paxton Donaldson. Callie Yellin turned around and returned the favor with a double of her own to left center that brought in Rogers and Bridgett Morales. Brooke Nauman later plated Yellin with a single to right. Kaylee Lyon cleared the bases with a double down the left field line that allowed Nauman and McKayla Carney to cross home. Back-to-back bases loaded walks scored Lyon and Chelsea Spain. A Rogers single to center scored Lana Gass. Yellin capped off the frame as she drove in Donaldson with a sacrifice fly to left.
 
They added two more runs in the third inning to seal the 12-0 win. Morales plated Bobbi Leitha with a single up the middle. Marissa Smith scored on a Mariah Belzer groundout to third.
 
Jade Sanders (9-2) earned the win after an electric 3.0 inning start, scattering one hit with a strikeout and only one walk. Harley Culie was also excellent in the circle as she threw a hitless final 2.0 innings with five strikeouts. Kara Amos (6-2) took the loss.
 
The Hillcats will have their work cut out for them tomorrow as they welcome No. 11 Pittsburg State (32-2, 6-0 MIAA) to the Diamond Sports Complex. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 12 p.m.