MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The Rogers State softball team gave up two runs in the bottom of the seventh falling 3-2 to Southwest Baptist Sunday morning closing the Southern Arkansas Festival.
 
The Hillcats turned a one-run deficit into a one-run advantage in the top of the seventh, but could not stop the Bearcats in the bottom of the inning from scoring twice on their final swing.
 
Ashleigh Stidman started the rally two-out rally in the seventh with a single up the middle. Katelyn Gamble followed with another single, her second of the morning. Morgen Blanchard tied the score, 1-1, pulling a single down the line to plate Stidman and starting pitcher Rachel Jones returned to the game as a pinch hitter. The senior extended the inning hitting a single bringing Gamble home for a 2-1 edge.
 
The margin was nearly enough, but SBU used its own two-out rally in the bottom half of the frame as starting pitcher Kacey Ayers hit a pinch-hit, walk-off home run pulling off the dramatic win, 3-2.
 
Gamble and Katlin Alexander led the Hillcats' offense with two hits apiece going 2-for-3 in the contest. Morgen Blanchard earned all-tournament team honors for her play during the five games tallying a team-leading .375 batting average, two double, three RBI, and eight total bases.
 
Jones took the loss for RSU throwing three innings, while Jessica Christian pitched the middle portion of the game allowing just two hits and zero runs in 3.2 innings of work. Ayers earned the complete-game win for SBU allowing eight hits and two runs.
 
The Hillcats (0-5 overall) return to Claremore for their home opener Feb. 9 hosting Mid-America Christian at the Diamond Sports Complex starting at 1 p.m. Catch all the action live on the Hillcat Network with audio, video, and stats at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.