CLAREMORE, Okla. – The Rogers State softball team fell twice on Tuesday evening as No. 20 Central Oklahoma claimed the doubleheader sweep over the Hillcats in non-conference action at the Diamond Sports Complex.
Errors and stranded baserunners plagued the Hillcats in the opener suffering a 6-1 loss. In the nightcap, UCO tallied eight hits and produced four runs while RSU registered seven hits but couldn't put a run across home plate, falling 4-0.
GAME ONE In the opener, the nationally-ranked Bronchos took an early one-run lead in the second frame with a two-out, solo shot over the left field fence by catcher Ashleigh Tramel.
A four-error top of the fifth was the demise of the Hillcats as the Bronchos capitalized with a five-run inning to push their advantage to 6-0.
UCO retired nine-consecutive Hillcats before
Malori Moss led off the bottom of the fifth with a walk.
Chelsie Drew followed with a single and pinch hitter
Katlin Alexander tallied a one-out RBI single through the left side to put RSU on the board. With runners on first and third, UCO got out of the jam with an inning-ending double play.
RSU battled in the sixth, loading the bases with a trio of walks but stranded all three runners. The Hillcats left eight runners on base in the contest.
Bailee Kaderka took the loss for RSU allowing six runs, two earned, on six hits with two strikeouts.
Rachel Jones finished the final three scoreless innings without allowing a hit in the circle for the Cats with one strikeout.
Despite allowing seven walks in the contest, Jessi Walker (5-1) tallied the victory in the circle, allowing one run on four hits with two strikeouts.
GAME TWO UCO started the nightcap with a two-out, two-run home run by Brooke Zukerman.
The Hillcats threatened in the bottom of the second, putting runners on second and third with two outs, but couldn't put a run across home plate.
The Bronchos posted one run in the fourth and fifth innings extending their advantage. In the bottom of the fifth, RSU looked to rally as
Jamie Kowalick registered a one-out single and moved into scoring position
Carley Conley's single with two outs.
RSU stranded eight baserunners in the finale.
Aubrey Voboril (1-2) was tagged with the loss for RSU, allowing four runs on eight hits in six innings of work.
Kelsey Berlin (3-2) earned the shutout victory for UCO, allowing seven hits with three walks.
Rogers State (5-9) will return to action on Friday as the Hillcats start a three-game Heartland Conference series against Newman with a doubleheader starting at 5 p.m. at the Diamond Sports Complex. The games will be streamed live on the Hillcat Network at
www.rsuhillcats.com/live.
