ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Rogers State softball started the 2018 campaign with two wins on Saturday (Feb. 3) at the Ronnie Hawkins Tournament to move to 2-0 for the first time since 2013. The Hillcats defeated Missouri S&T, 15-2, and closed today with a 5-0 win over host Henderson State at Dee White Field.
 
Two freshmen – Tailee Reding and Andrea Morales -- earned their first collegiate wins in the circle. The pair combined to allow only six hits and one earned run over the two games. Another freshman in Merissa Smith registered five hits and four RBI in the two games today.
 
RSU 15, MST 2
 
The Hillcats scored runs early and pulled away late for a 15-2 win in six innings over Missouri S&T to start the season.
 
Preseason All-Heartland selection Taylor Santistevan plated two runs in the first inning on a single to left to give the Cats an early 2-0 edge. The margin grew to 3-0 in the second on a solo home run by Smith.
 
RSU poured on four runs in the fourth inning to up the advantage to 7-0. Allie McFetridge singled in two runs for a 5-0 score, and Santistevan added two more RBI on a single down the line.
 
After S&T got one run back in the top of the fourth, Smith struck again with a two-run home run for a 9-1 edge. The Cats used six runs in the sixth to end the game at 15-2 due to the run rule.
 
Reding went 5.0 innings in her first collegiate appearance. She totaled three strikeouts and only three hits allowed with one earned run. Alex Brake pitched 1.0 inning and retired the side.
 
Nine Cats totaled hits as the navy and red finished with 19 total hits. Santistevan went 3-for-5 with four RBI. Smith was 2-for-5 with four RBI. McFetridge finished 3-for-5 with two RBI.
 
RSU 5, HSU 0
 
Morales shutdown the Reddies in game two as she pitched a complete game shutout and allowed only three hits in seven innings with four strikeouts.
 
RSU scored two runs in the first inning to help out Morales and added one run in each of the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to pull away for the 5-0 victory. Danelle Day hit a two-run homer to right for a 2-0 edge and the Cats were aided by a Henderson State error in the fourth to go up 3-0 after four innings.
 
McFetridge singled to left in the fifth inning to increase the lead to 4-0, and Mikayla Waggnor homed in the sixth for the final run in the 5-0 victory.
 
Smith posted a 3-for-4 performance at the plate in game two. The freshman infielder totaled five hits and four RBI from the leadoff spot on opening day. The Cats finished with seven hits against the host Reddies.
 
The Hillcats close out the Ronnie Hawkins Tournament with two games on Sunday (Feb. 4). RSU starts with Southwest Baptist at 9 a.m. and then plays Southern Arkansas at 1 p.m.