CLAREMORE, Okla. - Rogers State opened the 2009 softball season with a bang Tuesday afternoon at the Hillcat Complex in Claremore, Okla.
 

The Hillcats won the opener with a dramatic ninth-inning home run, then plated eight runs in the nightcap to win easily and record a sweep over Bacone College (Muskogee, Okla.). Senior transfer Natalie Smith delivered the big blow in her first game as a Hillcat. Her walk-off homer capped a 4-2 victory in Game 1 and catapulted RSU to an 8-3 win in Game 2.
 

The two-game sweep gave first-year head coach Mark Dicus his first wins as the leader of the Hillcat softball program.

GAME ONE
 

Smith made quite a first impression in her first game wearing an RSU uniform. She belted two home runs and collected three RBI to lift the Cats to their first win of the season.
 

Lillian Nevarez scored the first run of the year in the bottom of the first inning on a two out single up the middle by Katie Bointy. Smith staked RSU to a 2-0 lead when she ripped a solo home run over the centerfield fence to lead off the third inning.
 

However, Bacone tied the game with a pair of unearned runs in the sixth. Alex Ramirez drew a walk and scored when Nevarez misplayed a sharply-hit single to right by Kristy Britton. Britton scored the tying run on an RBI groundout by Sasha Long.
 

The Hillcats squandered scoring opportunities in the seventh and eighth innings before Smith's heroics sealed the win in the ninth. Jenny Johnson led off the frame with a single up the middle and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Tanya Koch. The sacrifice proved to be unnecessary as Smith cranked the first pitch she saw over the centerfield wall, setting off a wild celebration.
 

Johnson went the distance for RSU in the pitcher's circle. She racked up 13 strikeouts and yielded just six hits and two unearned runs in nine innings of work. Chrissy Hood was tagged with the loss for Bacone.

GAME TWO
 

After falling behind 1-0 in the second inning of the nightcap the Hillcats responded with eight runs over the final four innings to complete the sweep.
 

Tiffany Ward ripped a solo homer to left in the top of the second inning to give the Lady Warriors an early lead. RSU starter Jacki Kragel was promptly lifted from the game in favor of Johnson, who picked up right where she left off in Game 1. The senior hurler scattered five hits and two runs across the final six innings to record her second win of the day.
 

The RSU offense provided more than enough cushion for Johnson in the nightcap. A three-run third gave the Cats the lead and was followed by two runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth. Six RSU players combined for eight hits, led by Nevarez and Sara Walkup with two apiece.
 

Robin Chriestenson suffered the loss for Bacone after allowing six runs, two earned, in five innings of work.
 

Rogers State (2-0) will hit the road this weekend to defend its tournament title at the Cow Town Classic in Ft. Worth, Texas. The Hillcats return home Thurs. Feb. 26 to open conference play against Oklahoma City University.