CLAREMORE, Okla. - No. 8 Rogers State softball (25-10, 9-7 MIAA) split a doubleheader against Central Missouri (18-12, 5-5 MIAA) to close out the weekend on Saturday.
GAME 1 - RSU 3, UCM 1
The first game of the day saw the Hillcats jump on the board early with a 2-0 lead after the first inning. After back-to-back walks of McKayla Carney and Abbey Rogers, Chloe Bohuslavicky moved them into scoring position with a fielder's choice. Mariah Belzer wore a pitch with the bases loaded to bring in Carney. Bridgett Morales then plated Rogers as she earned a 3-1 bases-loaded walk.
RSU tacked on another run in the second to extend the lead to 3-0. Rogers laced a two-out double through the left side of the infield to put runners in scoring position after Carney earned a four-pitch walk in the previous at-bat. Carney later scored on a wild pitch.
The Jennies got a run back in the fourth to cut the deficit to 3-1 after a leadoff solo home run to left.Â
In the final two and a half innings, both pitching staffs locked things down as they combined to only allow two more hits and left five runners stranded in that span.
Jade Sanders (9-5) earned the win after a 5.1-inning start, only allowing one run on two hits with seven strikeouts. Harley Culie (3) picked up the save, throwing a perfect final 1.2 innings. Brooke Weimer (8-6) took the loss.
GAME 2 - UCM 5, RSU 2
The roles reversed in the second game as Central Missouri dashed out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning and followed it up with a third run in the second inning.Â
After scoreless third and fourth innings, the Hillcats answered back in the fifth to cut the deficit to 3-2. Saylor Brown reached on a one-out fielder's choice with Melania Heaton coming in to pinch run. Brooke Nauman worked a full-count walk to put runners at first and second. Later in the frame, Abbey Rogers drove both of them in with a single up the middle.
The Jennies responded with a two-run blast to left center in the sixth to secure the 5-2 win.
Andi Siebeneck (5-4) earned the win. Harley Culie (11-4) took the loss.
RSU returns to the RCB Bank Sports Complex on Tuesday, April 1 as they step out of MIAA play for a non-conference doubleheader against Arkansas Tech. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.
