CLAREMORE, Okla. - The Rogers State softball team could not have ended the Border War Festival any better than they did on Saturday night as they stunned No. 6 Central Baptist (Ark.) 9-5 with a walk-off grand slam by sophomore Shelby Brogdon in the bottom of the seventh inning at Hillcat Complex in Claremore.
The Hillcats trailed 5-3 going into the bottom of the seventh. Senior Logan Zamora led off the inning with a single to left field and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch by Jessica Brock. With one out, Brock gave up back-to-back walks to load the bases. Freshman Taran Threet followed with a single to centerfield, sending Zamora and Fauchier home. Brock intentionally walked sophomore Linsey Curtis to load the bases. With two outs and a 1-2 count Brogdon blasted a grand slam over the fence in left field to win the game.
The homer was the Forney, Texas native's fifth of the season. The defeat marks only the second time this season CBC (35-2) has lost. Prior to tonight, the Mustangs lone loss fell at the hands of the University of Houston- Victoria on March 25.
RSU dented the score board first in the contest. Fauchier led off the third with a single and Brittany White followed with a double off the wall in centerfield. Fauchier scored on a wild throw by centerfielder Kiara Bonner to give the Cats the early advantage.
After a scoreless fourth inning, the Mustangs took the lead in the top of the fifth. Bonner led off the inning with a single and eventually scored on a wild pitch by Ashley Wailand. Christian Kirchner walked and Carly McLennan followed with a shot over the centerfield fence to give CBC a 3-1 lead.
The resilient Hillcats battled back in the bottom half of the inning with a pair of runs to knot the score. White singled to centerfield to plate Dina Ortiz who led off the inning with a walk. Curtis hit an infield single to bring the tying run home.
The Mustangs pushed two runs across home plate in the top of the sixth with a two-RBI double to right field by Kirchner and retired the side in the bottom half of the inning.
The RSU defense was solid all evening and held the Mustangs scoreless in the top of the seventh as they set the stage for the dramatic finale.
Ashley Wailand (13-7) registered the win in the circle for the Hillcats as she tossed the complete game and allowed five runs on 12 hits with five strikeouts. Jessica Bock (18-1) suffered her first loss of the season as she pitched two and one third innings and allowed six runs on six hits with three strikeouts.
White, Zamora and Fauchier tallied two hits apiece in the game for the Hillcats.
Rogers State (30-18) returns to Sooner Athletic Conference play on Tuesday as they travel to No. 11 Southern Nazarene for a twin bill. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.
