SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Rogers State softball team suffered a pair of losses on the road at Drury Thursday night falling 6-2 and 8-0 from Thompson Field.
 
The Hillcats, playing their final road games of the season, opened the scoring in the twin bill but the Panthers went on to score 14 of the next 15 runs earning the sweep.
 
GAME ONE
Jamie Kowalick, getting her first-career start in the outfield, got the day going in the right direction for RSU leading off the first with a double into the gap in right center. Cailin Simpson drove the junior home on a single into left center giving the Hillcats a quick 1-0 advantage.
 
Neither team was able to generate much offense against starting pitchers Bailee Kaderka for RSU nor Drury's Jessica Kjeldgaard until the Panthers struck for a pair of runs in the fourth to take the lead. Rachael Michaelis tallied the go-ahead run by stealing home for the 2-1 mark.
 
The lead did not last long as the Hillcats quickly tied the game in the fifth on a solo home run off the bat of Simpson, who joined Carley Conley with two hits in the opening game.
 
A three-run inning, coming on one hit in the bottom half of the fifth, put Drury back in front for good capitalizing on two RSU errors. The Panthers added an insurance run in the sixth for the 6-2 win.
 
Kaderka (7-18) took the loss for the Cats allowing six runs, just one earned, in the complete game on five hits. Kjeldgaard (14-12) picked up the win from the circle for Drury scattering five hits over the seven-inning decision allowing two runs.

GAME TWO
The Panthers posted 14 hits in the finale getting an 8-0 run-rule victory in six innings as starter Shelby Weissenbach helped her own cause with three hits and four RBI.
 
Drury put up three runs on four hits in the first inning and added two runs after two outs were recorded in the second for an early 5-0 lead.
 
RSU looked to get back into the game in the third as Ashleigh Stidman and Kowalick got back-to-back singles, but Stidman was thrown out trying to move to third on the play. The Hillcats left a pair on base as Simpson drew a walk in the inning.
 
Weissenbach capped the game in the bottom of the sixth belting a two-run home run to right center for the 8-0 win, the seventh straight for Drury. Weissenbach (9-10) pitched a four-hit shutout in the night cap while Jessica Christian (1-5) was charged with the loss for the Hillcats.
 
RSU (13-30 overall) returns home for its final four games of the season beginning Saturday, April 25 hosting the top-ranked NAIA team, Oklahoma City. Game one of the doubleheader is slated for 2 p.m. with Senior Day festivities to begin prior to first pitch. Follow all the action live on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.