WARRENSBURG, Mo. - Rogers State softball (25-13, 9-7 MIAA) battled the Central Missouri Jennies (24-12, 7-5 MIAA) in a doubleheader on Saturday, falling in both games with final scores of 7-5 and 5-2.

GAME 1: RSU 5, UCM 7
RSU fell to Central Mo. with a final score of 7-5. 

The Hillcats started strong, gaining an early 2-0 lead when Rylee Bush reached first on an error and Jaden Jordan (8) followed with a two-run homer to right field. However, Central Missouri answered back with a single run in the bottom half of the first inning, bringing the score to 2-1. 

In the third inning, Bush hit her first career home run to right center, extending RSU's lead to 3-1. 

The Jennies managed to narrow the gap in the fourth inning, scoring a run on a single from Kyrsten Moran, making it 3-2. The fifth inning was pivotal for UCM, who surged ahead by scoring five runs, highlighted by a two-RBI double from Jenna Little and another from Jadyn Sheffield, taking a commanding 7-3 lead.

RSU attempted a comeback in the sixth inning, with an RBI double by Karlee Smith scoring Raelle Gorman, followed by an RBI single from Halle Bucktrot that brought Smith home, cutting the deficit to 7-5. Unfortunately, the Jennies held firm in the bottom half, and the Hillcats were unable to add more runs in the seventh inning, resulting in the final score of Central Mo. 7, RSU 5.

Harley Culie (13-7) pitched 4.2 innings, allowing five hits and two earned runs while striking out 10 batters. Erica Ross contributed 1 1/3 innings in relief, giving up four hits and two earned runs. 

Offensively, Bush had three hits, scored two runs, and drove in one run with a home run. Jordan also made a significant impact with a home run and two RBIs, while Smith added a double and an RBI.

GAME 2: RSU 2, UCM 5
The Hillcats opened the scoring in the first inning when Mariah Belzer singled and advanced to third on a series of plays, eventually scoring on a wild pitch to give RSU a 1-0 lead. 

Central Missouri took control in the fourth inning when Marisa Johnson hit a two-run homer, driving in Bailey Brumley and putting the Jennies ahead 2-1. 

Smith leveled the score in the fifth with her first career home run to center field, but the Jennies quickly regained the lead with a groundout RBI, making it 3-2 by the end of the fifth.

The Jennies extended their advantage in the sixth inning with another two-run homer by Johnson, finalizing the score at 5-2. 

Kinsley Hill (9-3) pitched 4.0 innings for RSU, allowing three earned runs on four hits and striking out five batters. Culie entered in relief, pitching 2.0 innings and giving up two earned runs on three hits.

Smith led the Hillcats offensively with a home run and scored one run. Belzer contributed with one hit, one run, and three assists from shortstop, while Saylor Brown added a hit and an assist in the field.

UP NEXT 
Rogers State will return to the RCB Bank Sports Complex next Friday for a doubleheader against Nebraska-Kearney at 2 and 4 p.m.