BROKEN ARROW, Okla. – Four Rogers State softball errors proved to be costly in two losses against Oklahoma Christian in Heartland Conference play on Wednesday (March 28) at the Tiger Softball Field at Broken Arrow High School. Two seven inning errors in game one gave the Eagles a 4-3 win, and two errors in the first inning of game team allowed OC to build a 2-0 lead en route to a 3-2 victory to sweep the twinbill.
The Hillcats fell to 26-10 and 11-6 in the Heartland Conference, while the Eagles moved to 21-16 and 11-7 in league play.
OC 4, RSU 3
The visiting Eagles rallied with three runs in the seventh to win, 4-3, in the first game of the doubleheader. The Hillcats were doomed by two mistakes in the seventh with the three runs all unearned due to two RSU errors.
Needing only three outs with a 3-1 edge, RSU allowed the lead-off batter from OC to reach due to an error at first. After an infield single and a sac bunt put two Eagles runners in scoring position, a sac fly pulled OC to within one at 3-2 plus an error in the outfield allowed all the Eagles to be safe in the play. An RBI groundout tied the score and a single through the right side gave the Eagles a 4-3 lead.
The Hillcats went down in order in the bottom of the seventh to fall in game one.
RSU took an early 1-0 lead on a double steal where
Katy Taylor came in to score in the first inning.
OC knotted the score at 1-1 with a solo home run in the fourth inning, the only earned run of the game for the Eagles
In the fifth inning, the navy and red plated two runs to gain a 3-1 advantage.
Danelle Day drove in the first run with a sac fly to center.
Taylor Santistevan upped the score to 3-1 when she singled to score
Merissa Smith.
Senior
Alex Brake started in the circle and allowed only one run on a solo home run in 5.0 innings of work. She posted two strikeouts.
Tailee Reding pitched the final 2.0 innings.
Smith went 3-for-4 at the plate.
OC 3, RSU 2
OC took advantage of two errors by the navy and red in the first inning to take a 3-2 victory in game two.
The game started with an error in the outfield, and the Eagles went in front 1-0 with a single up the middle in the second at-bat of the contest. The second tally of the inning scored after a throwing error for a 2-0 score.
RSU cut into the deficit in its half of the first inning with one run.
Allie McFetridge drove in a run with a single to right field for a 2-1 margin.
In the fourth inning, the Eagles plated one run with an RBI single up the middle for a 3-1 advantage.
The Cats pulled to within one run in the bottom of the fourth with a
Sierra Skaggs RBI single that made it 3-2.
The navy and red had an opportunity to tie or take the lead in the sixth inning after two runners moved into scoring position with two outs. However, pinch hitter
Edie Fairchild struck out looking to end the chance in the sixth.
In the seventh, RSU again put the tying run in scoring position after a Smith double to the gap in left. However, OC's Madison Nordyke got two strikeouts to close the game and end any opportunity for the Cats.
Smith finished 2-for-4 with one run scored in game two. She posted a 5-for-8 day at the plate.
Andrea Morales started in game two, going 3.1 innings with three hits and one earned run allowed. Skaggs pitched 1.2 innings, and Reding came in for the final 2.0 innings.
The Hillcats are off this weekend, but host Eastern New Mexico for a doubleheader on Tuesday (April 3) at 12 p.m. at the Diamond Sports Complex. Coverage will be available on the Hillcat Network at
www.rsuhillcats.com/live.
