CLAREMORE, Okla. – The Rogers State softball team suffered a doubleheader sweep to Lubbock Christian on Friday evening at the Diamond Sports Complex.
A four-run fifth inning proved to be the difference in the opener as the Lady Chaps registered the 6-3 victory. In the nightcap, the Chaps compiled four runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to propel them to the 12-8 win.
GAME ONE
LCU used a RBI double by Jessica Loiacano to open the contest with a one-run lead. RSU answered in the bottom of the frame. Cailin Simpson and Carley Conley drew consecutive walks and Katlin Alexander registered a single to load the bases. Whitney Hamilton followed with a RBI fielder's choice to knot the score, 1-1.
In the third, the Hillcats took the lead, stringing together three hits to score a run. Simpson and Conley started the inning with consecutive singles and Hamilton registered an RBI groundout to give RSU the lead.
The advantage was short-lived as the Chaps evened the score in the fourth as Sammie Murrietta scored on a Hillcat error.
In the fifth, LCU took the lead with a two-RBI single to right field by Murrietta and added to its advantage scoring a pair of runs on two wild pitches.
RSU cut into the deficit in the seventh with a RBI single to left by Simpson, but the Hillcats couldn't find the equalizer.
Rachel Jones was tagged with the loss allowing six runs, five earned, on five hits with four strikeouts. Courtney McGee earned the win for LCU allowing three runs, two earned, on nine hits with two strikeouts.
GAME TWO
The Lady Chaps took an early four-run lead, posting a pair of runs in both the first and third innings.
In the bottom of the third, the Hillcats rallied to cut the deficit before taking the lead. With the bases loaded, Conley used a two-run double ripped down the right field line to put the Cats on the scoreboard. Alexander drew a walk while Hamilton and Bailey Spencer followed with consecutive RBI singles to knot the score. A bases loaded fielder's choice by Malori Moss gave the Hillcats their first lead of the game, 5-4.
LCU tied the game in the top of the fifth with a RBI double by Sydney Beuthien. The Lady Chaps took the lead later in the inning with a pair of RBI singles and a Hillcat error to make it an 8-5 game.
LCU tacked on four more runs in the sixth to push the advantage to 12-5. RSU climbed back into the game in the seventh with a two-out, three-run home run belted over the left field fence by Hamilton cutting the deficit, 12-8. It was the senior's team-leading fourth home run of the season.
Bailee Kaderka (4-9) was tagged with the loss, allowing 10 runs, eight earned, on 10 hits with one strikeout.
Kelsey Hoppel (6-1) registered the win, allowing five runs on seven hits with four strikeouts.
Hamilton led the charge for RSU, going 2-4 with four RBI in the game.
Rogers State (8-17, 4-9 HC) will close out the three-game series with Lubbock Christian on Saturday morning at 11 a.m. The game will be streamed live on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.
