SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The Rogers State softball team had leads in both games on its final day at the Rattler Invitational Saturday but failed to produce a victory falling 10-8 in eight innings to Western Oregon before a 6-2 loss to Tarleton State.

Jackie Flores and Jamie Kowalick each recorded four hits on the day leading the offense while pitcher Yolanda Rios took the loss in both games from the circle.

Game One

The Hillcats quickly fell behind the Wolves allowing two runs in the top of the first on starter Brooklyne Harbert but got one back in the bottom as Kowalick continued her hot bat with a lead-off single. The sophomore later scored on a single by Candace Monigold.

Western Oregon took control scoring the next five runs for a commanding 7-1 lead through the fourth. RSU was not daunted as Kowalick hit an RBI double scoring Harbert in the bottom of the fourth before the Hillcats came back to even the score 7-7 posting a five-run fifth inning.

Monigold started the frame with a single and RSU used three Wolves' errors to its advantage adding four hits launching the comeback. The Hillcats eventually claimed their first lead of the game in the sixth 8-7 behind Harbert's RBI single.

RSU squandered its chance to close out the win putting the first two Western Oregon batters on base via errors in the seventh leading to the tying run and the first extra-inning game of the season for the Hillcats.

The Wolves wasted no time in the international tiebreak scoring twice in the top of the eighth and RSU stranded a pair of baserunners with a chance to continue the contest falling 10-8.

Kowalick and Flores finished the game going 3-for-5 from the plate while seven different players scored at least one run for the Hillcats.

Game Two

RSU opened the scoring against Tarleton State using a familiar recipe as Kowalick started the game with a single and made her way to third base on an error and a groundout. Carley Conley walked then stole second while Kowalick came home on the throw for a 1-0 lead.

The TexAnns threatened in the second loading the bases with one out but starting pitcher Rios left them stranded getting a strikeout and ground ball out to end the inning. TSU broke through in the fourth scoring three times getting two RSU errors and three free passes.

The deficit for the Hillcats stretched to 6-1 after the TexAnns put up three more runs in the fifth on just one hit and three walks.

Flores used an RBI single in the top of the sixth inning scoring Monigold to get one run back but the damage had been done as TSU closed out the 6-2 victory. Both teams allowed only four hits in the contest but the TexAnns capitalized on seven RSU walks.

Rogers State (2-7) returns to action Tuesday, Feb. 25 for its home opener against Pittsburg State. The doubleheader begins at 1 p.m. at the Diamond Sports Complex and will be streamed live on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.