DENTON, Texas – No. 3 Rogers State softball (16-4) handled the Texas Woman's Pioneers (11-13) in a non-conference, mid-week doubleheader on Wednesday.
 
GAME 1 – RSU 6, TWU 3
 
After a scoreless frame to start the day, the Hillcats jumped on the board with a 3-0 lead in the second inning. After Callie Yellin earned a four-pitch walk to begin the inning, Chelsea Spain later drove her in with a sacrifice fly to center. Ashtyn Barrett and Bridgett Morales both scored on a throwing error by the third baseman.
 
The Pioneers responded with three runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth to tie things at 3-3. A fielder's choice allowed a run to score from third. A two RBI single to center brought in the other two runs.
 
In the top of the sixth, RSU pushed across three runs to seal the 6-3 win. Spain blasted a bases clearing triple to left center that scored Morales and Yellin with Spain also scoring on the play due to an error by the centerfielder.
 
Sara Llamas-Howell (8-2) earned the complete game win only allowing the three runs on four hits with seven strikeouts. Alyssa LeBlanc (5-5) took the loss.
 
GAME 2 – RSU 3, TWU 1
 
The second game looked to be a classic pitchers' duel to start as neither starter allowed a run in the first three innings. RSU's Jade Sanders was perfect through the first three innings, while TWU's Jaycie Hall scattered one hit and left two runners stranded in that span.
 
The Pioneers broke the stalemate in the bottom of the fourth as they pushed across the game's first run to take a 1-0 lead. A single to right center scored the run from third.
 
The Hillcats answered back with two runs of their own in the top of the fifth to jump in front 2-1. With one out, Bridgett Morales unloaded on a 2-2 pitch, blasting a two-run shot to left that scored Bobbi Leitha.
 
RSU tacked on an insurance run in the top of the seventh to claim the 3-1 win. Morales again came up big as she plated Mariah Belzer with a double to right.
 
Reigning MIAA Pitcher of the Week, Jade Sanders (6-2) earned the complete game win only allowing one run on four hits with six strikeouts. Jaycie Hall (2-4) took the loss.
 
The Hillcats will return home on Saturday, March 8 to open MIAA play against rival Northeastern State. The doubleheader is set to start at 12 p.m.