CLAREMORE, Okla. – Rogers State softball (45-10) is headed to the NCAA Division II Central Regional Championship for the third-straight season after coming out on top with a 3-0 win over rival Central Oklahoma (44-13) in a hard-fought game on Friday.
 
In yet another heavyweight matchup between the Hillcats and Bronchos, both starters were locked in from the jump as neither allowed a run in the first five frames. Jade Sanders limited UCO to just three hits and left four runners stranded. Likewise, Terin Ritz only allowed RSU one hit and left three stranded.
 
The Hillcats broke the stalemate in the top of the sixth as Abbey Rogers blasted a two-out double to right field. After fouling off the first pitch, Kaylee Lyon launched a two-run bomb way over the left center field wall, scoring Bobbi Leitha who had pinch run for Rogers.
 
RSU sealed the 3-0 win with an insurance run in the top of the seventh. With one out, Bridgett Morales reached on an error by the second baseman. Chelsea Spain later drove in Mariah Belzer, who pinch ran for Morales, as she reached on a fielder's choice.
 
Sanders (16-3) earned the complete game shutout as she scattered four hits with five strikeouts. Ritz (21-7) took the loss.
 
The Hillcats will face off against Southern Nazarene tomorrow in the Central Regional Championship game as the Crimson Storm eliminated the Bronchos with a wild walk off grand slam in the final game of the day's action. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at the Diamond Sports Complex.