CLAREMORE, Okla. – The Rogers State softball team was able to weather the No. 17-ranked Crimson Storm of Southern Nazarene Tuesday afternoon at the Hillcat Complex in a doubleheader split.
The nationally ranked Crimson Storm claimed the first game 7-4 but in the nightcap late game heroics pushed RSU over the top for the 8-7 victory in nine innings.
GAME ONE
RSU struck first in the home half of the second as Laura Fleck scored from second on a dropped fly by centerfielder Aubrey Jones to give the Cats a 1-0 lead.
The lead didn't last long as SNU issued a counter attack started on a RBI single by Kristina Forest. The Storm wasn't finished there as Kylie Lang reached home on an error by the RSU right fielder to swing the lead, advantage SNU 2-1. A single by Jones scored Katie Turner and put the Crimson Storm up 3-1 entering the bottom of the third.
SNU led off the fifth inning with back-to-back hits. An error on the RSU shortstop on a throw from the catcher scored Jill Clemence. A hit-by-pitch later in the inning scored a run and resulted in a RSU pitching change. Linsey Curtis came in relief for coach Mark Dicus' squad. The junior issued a bases loaded walk to lead off her relief stint and score the third run of the inning for SNU as the Storm took the 6-1 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth the Cats were able to reclaim a run on a solo blast over the leftfield fence by Kaitlin McCool trimmed the SNU advantage to 6-2.
The Crimson Storm regained the run in the visitors half of the sixth inning on a Amy Madden single through the hole at shortstop to score Katie Turner build the lead back to five runs for SNU.
RSU attempted to build a comeback in the final half inning as McCool hit her second homerun of the game and fifth of the season with a two-run shot to left with two outs. But the next batter struck out swinging to close out the game as SNU came away with the 7-4 victory.
McCool went 2-for-4 with three RBI and plated two runs as the leadoff hitter for the Cats as RSU tallied just five hits in the first game.
Fleck (24-10) received the loss for RSU as the freshman pitched 4.2 innings allowing six runs, just one earned, on ten hits. Curtis pitched 2.1 innings in relief allowing one unearned run on two hits.
Kaci Crawford (12-6) registered the win for the Crimson Storm as she pitched the complete game fanning six batters and allowing just three earned runs on five hits.
GAME TWO
The higher ranked Storm took the early 3-0 advantage in the top of the first inning but RSU was able to quickly trim the SNU lead to 3-2 as Shona Guerrero hit a two RBI homerun to left in the home half of the first.
RSU took the lead in the bottom of the second on an Ashlie Fauchier single to left to score Fleck and a wild throw by the left fielder scored Kirsten Leppla to push the Hillcats in front 4-3.
A two run, homerun by Aubrey Jones reclaimed the lead for SNU in the top of the third. The Crimson Storm added another run in the fifth to push ahead 6-4.
It wasn't until the home half of the seventh inning that RSU was able to add runs to the board on the bat of Taran Threet. The Wellston, Okla. native hit a two RBI single to left scoring McCool and Fauchier to tie the game.
Both teams were held scoreless in the eighth despite the international tie breaker. In the top of the ninth Turner singled to shallow right to score Lang from second to put SNU in the lead 7-6. RSU quickly tied the game as Guerrero led off with a single to score Fauchier. Then with one out Laura Fleck's walk-off single deep down the right field line scored Guerrero as RSU topped No. 17 SNU 8-7 in extra innings.
Shona Guerrero went 3-for-5 at the plate including three RBI and plating two runs as RSU tallied 11 hits.
Fleck (25-10) earned the complete game victory as the freshman allowed four earned runs on 14 hits as she fanned three batters and issued two walks.
Kaci Crawford (12-7) received the loss for SNU in relief, pitching 2.1 innings allowing two earned runs on four hits and striking out three batters.
Rogers State (30-14, 13-5) will welcome Oklahoma Baptist to the Hillcat Complex on Thursday, April 19 for a 5 p.m. first pitch of the doubleheader. Live audio streaming will be provided at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.
