AUSTIN, Texas – The Rogers State softball team used a strong pitching performance from Bailee Kaderka on its way to a 5-1 victory at St. Edward's Thursday in Heartland Conference play at Diane Daniels Field.
 
The Hillcats fell behind 1-0 in game two before storming back with five unanswered runs taking a 5-2 lead into the fifth inning as play was suspended due to darkness in Austin.
 
GAME ONE
Kaderka had a one-hit shutout going until the sixth when the Hilltoppers finally broke through but the junior finished off the complete-game victory. The win snapped a four-game skid for RSU playing in its first game away from home in more than a month after 19-straight in Claremore.
 
The Hillcats took advantage of an early error scoring twice in the first inning of action against reigning Heartland Conference Pitcher of the Year, Sarah Debrow. Jamie Kowalick and Carley Conley both singled with one out and came around to score giving RSU a quick 2-0 advantage.
 
In the circle, Kaderka was dealing from the start allowing two baserunners in the opening three innings until running into trouble in the third. A one-out error followed by a walk put two Hilltoppers on the bases before both moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. Kaderka was able to get a ground out to end the threat as RSU kept SEU off the scoreboard.
 
The defensive stand carried over into the top of the fourth as the Cats doubled their lead plating a pair of two-out runs. Malori Moss got the frame going with a single up the middle before stealing second. Kowalick delivered an RBI single as RSU registered three-consecutive hits capped by Conley's RBI double into right making it 4-0 in favor of the visitors.
 
Whitney Hamilton pushed the margin to 5-0 as she continued her impressive play of late launching her team-best fifth home run of the season leading off the sixth for RSU.
 
Three hits by SEU in the sixth finally put the Hilltoppers on the board against Kaderka, but the junior from Keller, Texas was able to escape a bases-loaded jam and RSU went on to close out the 5-1 victory. Kaderka (5-13) pitched her third complete game of the year striking out two allowing five hits. Debrow (13-7) suffered her first loss in nearly two weeks tossing all seven innings giving up eight hits while fanning eight.
 
GAME TWO
RSU opened a 5-2 lead in the twin-bill finale before play was halted due to darkness after four innings had been completed. The game will resume Friday afternoon at 2 p.m. before the third and final contest of the series.
 
The Hillcats fell behind in the first as SEU took a 1-0 lead on a wild pitch from RSU starter Jessica Christian, but used a four-run second to jump in front, 4-1. Randye Sharp had the first of three-straight hits for the Cats as Kowalick and Conley again came through with RBIs around a two-run double from Cailin Simpson.
 
Sharp got the offense started again in the top of the fourth singling into left before advancing into scoring position by swiping second base. Simpson walked before Conley stepped up and drove home another run sending a single up the middle making it 5-1.
 
Morgan Dufour cut the Hilltopper deficit down to three, 5-2, sending a solo home run to center. Christian was able to get out of the inning maintaining the Hillcat lead as play was stopped heading into the top of the fifth.
 
Rogers State (10-22, 6-12 HC) closes the conference series with the Hilltoppers Friday afternoon at 2 p.m. with the resumption of game two and game three to follow.