OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – The No. 22 Rogers State Softball team split day two of the Edmond Regional Festival III on Saturday, picking up a big shutout of No. 21 Texas A&M-Commerce before falling to host Oklahoma Christian in game two.
 
How It Happened (TAMC): Rogers State was locked in a pitching dual in the top-25 matchup, as Andrea Morales and Emily Otto matched each other pitch for pitch over the first five innings.
 
Both teams were able to get just three baserunners on through the first five innings, as it appeared that a moment of brilliance would be needed to separate the ace pitchers.
 
After Commerce was retired in order in the top of the sixth, Rogers State struck out twice to begin the bottom half. However, Mikayla Waggnor turned on a 1-1 pitch and smashed the ball over the left field fence, giving the Hillcats the lead with the two-out homerun.
 
Rogers State wouldn't be finished in the inning, as Danelle Day then singled and Elexis Watson walked to put two runners on for Makayla Bowman, who then smashed the first pitch she saw over the fence in left center.
 
The Hillcats would go on to add one more run as Tailee Reding then walked and Allie McFetridge doubled her home with a shot to the gap in right center.
 
The Lions would get two baserunners on in the seventh, but Morales was able to get out of the jam with a line out and pop out to third to end the game.
 
How It Happened (OC): Rogers State fell behind to the hosts early in game one, as the Eagles plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the first.
 
The Hillcats would respond in the third with two runs of their own on a single by Day to score Kimberli Presnell and a sacrifice fly by Watson to score Sabrina Anguiano.
 
However, Oklahoma Christian answered right back with run in the bottom of the third to regain the lead and then added three more runs in the fourth to go up 6-2.
 
The Hillcats would get one back in the sixth as a ball in play from Jaylan Gibson allowed Bowman to score the third run of the game for Rogers State.
 
In the seventh inning, the Hillcats would threaten Oklahoma Christian, as Anguiano homered to left field to lead off the inning. Rogers State would then load the bases and cut the deficit to one after a sacrifice fly from Reding. However, the Hillcats would strand the tying run at third to fall to the Eagles.
 
Key Statistics: The Hillcats would strand eight baserunners in game two against Oklahoma Christian.
 
Rogers State had just one extra-base hit in game two, while allowing three extra-base hits from Oklahoma Christian.
 
Key Performances: Andrea Morales picked up her NCAA leading 12^th win of the season after pitching seven scoreless innings, allowing just four hits and one walk. Morales had 10 strikeouts in the game.
 
Waggnor finished the day with two hits, including the homerun, and a walk. She scored two runs and had one RBI.
 
Anguiano had two hits and two runs in game two of the afternoon. She also had a walk in game one.
 
Bowman finished the day with a pair of hits, three RBIs and two runs scored.
 
Day and McFetridge also had two hits each on the afternoon and also drove in a run.
 
Notes: Rogers State defeated Texas A&M-Commerce for the second time this season. The Hillcats knocked off previously ranked No. 10 A&M Commerce two weeks ago at the A&M-Commerce Invitational.
 
Saturday's win is the third top-25 ranked win of the season for Rogers State.
 
Rogers State suffered its second loss of the weekend in game two. It is the first time the Hillcats have lost twice in the same week this season.
 
All four Rogers State losses in 2020 have come by one run.
 
Up Next: Rogers State will close out Festival/Invitational play on Sunday as they wrap up the weekend with a matchup against Cameron. The Hillcats are scheduled for a first pitch of 1 p.m. against the Aggies, as the game has been moved up from its originally scheduled time of 2 p.m. The game will be at Broncho Softball Field on the campus of Central Oklahoma.