LAREDO, Texas – Rogers State needed extra innings to defeat Texas A&M International in game one on Tuesday, but fell to the hosts as the teams split a Heartland Conference doubleheader at the TAMIU Softball Field.
The Hillcats lived by the homerun in game one. After falling behind in the fourth inning, the Hillcats would hit four homeruns, including two in extra innings to pull off a 5-2 victory.
The hosts capitalized on an error to plate two runs in the fourth inning, taking a lead over the Hillcats that lasted into the sixth.
Rogers State would bounce back and tie the game with back-to-back homeruns off the bats of
Danelle Day and
Allie McFetridge.
However, neither team would score, forcing the game to extras.
Rogers State loaded the bases in the eighth inning but were unable to find the breakthrough.
In the ninth inning, the Hillcats would return to the homerun as they hit two more to take a 5-2 lead.
After
Jaylan Gibson hit a leadoff single,
Rylee DeLozier hit a homerun to put RSU ahead 4-2. Two batters later,
Tailee Reding would hit a solo short for an extra insurance run as the Hillcats took a 5-2 lead.
It was more than enough for
Andrea Morales, who kept the DustDevils scoreless in the bottom half for her 15
th win of the season.
Morales finished with 12 strikeouts, allowing just four hits and no walks in the game.
The Hillcat bats would struggle in game two as Rogers State managed only three hits. They also had three errors in the game, which proved costly.
The hosts would grab their first run courtesy of an error in the second inning. Rogers State would have another error in the third inning that helped three more runs cross the plate.
Gibson would record two hits in the game, while five spots in the lineup were kept off base completely, as the Hillcats drew just one walk and had one hit by pitch.
Edie Fairchild was dealt the loss, giving up four runs, two unearned in 2.1 innings of work.
Bailey Killough pitched 3.2 innings of scoreless relief.
Rogers State will return home and set its sights on a three-game Heartland Conference series against Newman this Friday and Saturday at the Diamond Sports Complex.
