OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - Northwestern Oklahoma State bounced Rogers State from the Sooner Athletic Conference tournament with a 4-1 victory Friday night at Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City.
 

The Lady Rangers grabbed a four-run lead in the middle innings and squelched a late rally by the Hillcats to advance to the second day of the tournament.
 

Natalie Vasquez launched a two-run homer to left field in the bottom of the fourth inning to break a scoreless tie. The Rangers continued the rally with three more singles to make it 3-0 after four. Jacey Juden singled home Ashley Lovelady in the fifth to stretch the margin to four.
 

Brittany White led off the sixth with a single and Taryn Hernandez and Linsey Curtis both made bids for homers that were hauled in by the Rangers' left fielder at the edge of the warning track. Jodi Patterson drew a walk in the seventh and Dina Ortiz followed with a double. Ashley Fauchier singled up the middle to score Patterson and bring the tying run to the plate before White grounded out to end the game.

Taryn Hernandez (16-12) took the loss for RSU after giving up four runs on nine hits over six innings. Jacey Juden (19-14) earned the win for NWOSU, scattering six hits across seven innings of work with five strikeouts. Six different Hillcats tallied hits in the losing effort.

Rogers State (35-26, 16-19) will lose no seniors from a 2010 club that won 35 games and reached the postseason for the third straight year.