CLAREMORE, Okla. - The Rogers State softball team registered a pair of wins at the Border War Festival on Friday at Hillcat Complex in Claremore.
RSU opened the tournament with an 8-0 run-rule loss to No. 6 Central Baptist College (Ark.). The Hillcats belted a trio of home runs in each of the next two games as they garnered a 7-2 victory over Evangel (Mo.) and a 3-2 win against Culver Stockton (Mo.).
GAME ONE (vs. Central Baptist)
RSU had no answers for No. 6 Central Baptist in game one at the Border War Festival as the Mustangs claimed an 8-0 run-rule victory in five innings.
Christen Kirchner homered to cap a four-run second inning that gave the Mustangs a 4-0 lead. Kayla Lucas added to the lead with a two RBI single and Kirchner drove in one run with a single to make it 7-0 in the third. The Mustangs completed the run-rule in the top of the fifth as they scored one run on a Hillcat error.
Jessica Brock (18-0) tossed the complete game shutout for CBC. The Jacksonville, Ark. native allowed three hits while fanning seven hitters.
Amanda Edwards suffered the loss in the circle for RSU as she pitched three innings and allowed seven runs on eight hits with two strikeouts. Tiphani Moon homered to cap a four-run third inning that gave the Suns a 5-0 lead. Stephanie Lasley singled and scored on a wild pitch in the fifth and Kacie Visina singled home the final run in the fifth to reach the run-rule.
GAME TWO (vs. Evangel)
The Hillcats bounced back in game two with a 7-2 victory over Evangel (Mo.).
The Crusaders took an early 2-0 lead as they scored a run in both the first and third innings.
Senior Sarah Harvey tied up the score in the bottom of the third with a two-run homer over the centerfield fence.
Ashlie Fauchier led off the fifth inning with a single to left field and scored on an error by right fielder, Kari Tall-Domingos later in the inning. Edwards hit a RBI single to plate Brittany White and give the Cats a 4-2 advantage.
The Hillcats iced the win in the bottom of the sixth with a trio of runs. Dina Ortiz led off the inning with a solo shot and Loy followed with a first-pitch bomb over the left field fence. White doubled to left center and scored on an error Marriana Nelson.
Edwards closed out the seventh and earned the save. The sophomore hurler tossed one and one third innings, allowing one hit with one strikeout.
Junior Ashley Wailand registered the win in the circle as she pitched five and two third innings and allowed two runs on six hits with three strikeouts.
GAME THREE (vs. Culver Stockton)
RSU escaped with a 3-2 victory over Culver Stockton in the nightcap.
Shelby Brogdon put the Hillcats on the board first as she led off the second inning with solo home run over the left field fence. Zamora increased the lead with a first-pitch bomb with two outs later in the inning.
Fauchier hit a RBI single to centerfield and Ortiz scored to give the Cats a 3-0 lead.
Jessica Davis cut the Hillcat lead to one run with a two-run home in the top of the fifth.
RSU retired the side in the top of the six and Edwards closed out the seventh to earn the save.
Wailand (12-7) recorded the win in the circle as she tossed six innings and allowed two runs on four hits with three strikeouts.
With her home run in the nightcap, Zamora has a team-high 15 homers on the season. The Sun City, Calif. native, moved into second place on the RSU single-season home run record list.
RSU will return to action on Saturday at 10 a.m. as they host Evangel at Hillcat Complex. The Cats will round out the Border War Festival at 8 p.m. against Central Baptist.
