CLAREMORE, Okla. – No. 12 Rogers State softball picked up a series split with No. 25 Central Oklahoma on Thursday in MIAA play at the Diamond Sports Complex.
The Hillcats fell in game one 5-1, but recovered with a 1-0 shutout in game two to earn the split with the preseason MIAA favorite.
How It Happened (Game 1): Rogers State got the scoring started in the bottom of the first inning, with
Elexis Watson hitting a two-out single up the middle to score
Makayla Bowman.
After the Hillcats stranded two in the inning, Central Oklahoma responded with a solo homerun to lead off the second and tie the game.
The Hillcats and Bronchos would remain tied into the fourth inning when Central Oklahoma had a two-out double off the fence in left center to score two runs.
Rogers State would stand two runners in the fourth and then one in the fifth and one in the sixth, unable to answer the Bronchos.
Central Oklahoma would then add insurance in the top of the seventh, with a home run and then another RBI base hit.
How It Happened (Game 2): The Hillcats had the early threat, getting
Danelle Day to third in the first, but Rogers State would be unable to bring her home.
Rogers State would load the bases in the second inning after a couple walks and an infield single. Day would work her second walk of the game, bringing
Jaylan Gibson home for what proved to be the only run of the game.
Central Oklahoma would respond with a walk and single to start the third, but
M'Kayla Hillman got out of the early jam with groundouts to end the inning.
The Bronchos would get a runner to third with one out in the fifth, but Hillman again forced back to back ground outs to protect the lead.
Hillman would toss 1-2-3 innings in the sixth and seventh to secure the victory.
Players of Note: Hillman picked up the complete game shutout in game two, scattering two hits and three walks. She also had three strikeouts on her way to her third win of the season.
Day finished with a hit and two walks along with the RBI from game two on the afternoon.
Watson and
Abigail Taylor led the Hillcats with two hits each on the day. Watson was 2-for-5 and also had a hit by pitch and the RBI from game one.
Notes from the Day: Rogers State did not record an extra-base hit in either game.
The Hillcats stranded 11 base runners on the day, while Central Oklahoma stranded 12.
Both teams finished with eight strikeouts in the game.
Up Next: Following back-to-back MIAA series, the Hillcats will jump back into non-conference action with a mid-week battle against Harding. The Hillcats will face the Bison in Searcy, Arkansas on March 16. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. in the doubleheader.
