CLAREMORE, Okla. - The Rogers State Softball team split on consecutive days at the Central Baptist College Invitational in Conway, Ark. on March 4-5.
The Hillcats opened the weekend with a, 7-6, win over Lindenwood University. The Cats dropped a 6-5 decision in extra innings in the nightcap to Williams Baptist. RSU bounced back on Saturday morning with a 7-4 victory over Louisiana State University-Alexandria. However, the Hillcats committed five errors in the final contest which led to a 5-4 extra inning loss to Lyon College in the finale.
GAME ONE
Trailing 6-4 going into the seventh inning, the Hillcat softball team relied on a pair of home runs to lift them past Lindenwood ,who received votes in the preseason NAIA Top 25 Coaches Poll. Amanda Edwards belted her sixth home run of the season to tie the game. The homer drove in Logan Zamora who singled earlier in the inning. Linsey Curtis followed with a solo shot over the left field fence to give the Cat the go-ahead run.
Ashley Wailand retired the side in the bottom of the seventh to secure the victory. The right-handed pitcher earned the win as she tossed four innings and allowed three hits and three runs.
GAME TWO
Williams Baptist took an early 2-0 advantage in the bottom of the third inning but the Cats rallied as they plated four runs in the fourth. Kirsten Leppla blasted her first home run of the year sending senior Dina Ortiz across home plate and knotted the score 2-2. Katie Bointy followed with a single and Ashlie Fauchier followed with a triple to send her home. A sacrifice fly by Zamora sent Fauchier home and gave the Cats a 4-2 lead.
WBU regained the lead in the fifth with a trio of runs scored. However, the Cats tied the score in the sixth with a double by Edwards that allowed Fauchier to score.
The Lady Eagles earned the winning run in the eighth inning off an RBI single by Felicia Woodard.
Wailand suffered the loss in the circle as she pitched a complete game, allowing nine hits, six runs, three earned, with four strikeouts.
GAME THREE
Rogers State dented the scoreboard first on Saturday morning against LSUA. Fauchier led off the inning with a single and Zamora followed with a home run to give the Cats a 2-0 advantage.
The Hillcats doubled their lead in the top of the fourth as Ortiz hit a sacrifice bunt to score Edwards. Angelina Vines followed with a triple, platting Katrina Loy. LSUA knotted the score in the bottom half of the inning however, the Cats tacked on a pair of runs in the fifth thanks to a two-run homer by Edwards. RSU sealed the 7-4 win in the top of the sixth with an RBI single by Shelby Brogdon.
Amanda Edwards garnered the win in the circle. The sophomore pitched four innings and allowed four runs on four hits with two strikeouts.
GAME FOUR
For the second time in one weekend the Cats were tripped up in extra innings. RSU took an early 2-0 lead over Lyon College in the second with a two-run home run by Ortiz. The senior catcher blasted the ball over the center field fence. It was her four homer of the season.
Lyon tied up the contest in the third and took a one-run lead in the fifth but the Hillcats battled back in the seventh with an RBI double by Loy that sent the game into extra innings.
RSU plated one run in the top of the eighth with a single by Curtis but the Scots rallied in the bottom of the inning to win the game with two runs.
The Hillcats committed five errors in the one run defeat. Edwards suffered the loss in the circles as she pitched two and two third innings allowing three hits and two runs with two strikeouts.
The Hillcats belted six home runs over the four games. Zamora led the Cats with nine hits, one home run, three RBI and four runs scored. Edwards blasted three home runs in four games.
Rogers State (13-3, 2-0) returns to action on Wednesday as the host four games at Hillcat Complex. The Cats will play a pair of games against Bacone College at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. They will the wrap up the day with a twin bill against Oklahoma Wesleyan. First pitch set for 6 p.m.
