OKLAHOMA CITY – No. 19 Rogers State softball (6-2) split the first day of action at the Edmond Invitational with games against Southern Nazarene (3-3) and No. 16 Oklahoma Christian (3-3) on Friday.
 
GAME 1 – RSU 8, SNU 0 (5 Innings)
 
In the first game of the day, the Hillcats jumped on the board early as they took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. A Callie Yellin single through the right side of the infield drove in Abbey Rogers from second.
 
RSU exploded for seven runs in the second inning to push out to an 8-0 lead. Lana Gass got things started as she plated Kaylee Lyon with a sacrifice fly to right. Paxton Donaldson turned around and brought in Chelsea Spain with a double to right center. Abbey Rogers reached on a fielding error by the centerfielder that allowed Donaldson and McKayla Carney to score. Yellin capped off the scoring launching a three-run homer to left field that brought in Rogers and Bridgett Morales.
 
Over the final three and half frames, the Hillcat pitching staff scattered five hits and left four SNU runners stranded.
 
Sara Llamas-Howell (2-1) earned the win as she worked a scoreless 3.0 inning start and scattered four hits with two strikeouts. Ashley Larson (1-1) suffered the loss.
 
GAME 2 – OC 5, RSU 3
 
The second game of the day saw two Top 20 powerhouses go to battle with the Eagles getting on the board first with a run in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. The run scored from second on a single down the left field line.
 
OC went on to add four more runs in the bottom of the third to take a 5-0 lead. Back-to-back singles to right and left center, respectively, brought in the first two runs. A bases loaded hit by pitch scored the third run with the final run coming in on a sacrifice fly to right.
 
The Hillcats finally got on the board in the top of the fifth as they cut the lead to 5-2 with two runs. Bridgett Morales plated both Lana Gass and Chelsea Spain with a single to center.
 
RSU got another run back in the top of sixth to trim the deficit to 5-3, but the comeback was not meant to be as that is as close as they would get. Gass singled up the middle to drive in Spain from third.
 
Grace Anderson (3-2) earned the win, with Jill Dickson (1) earning the save. Jade Sanders (3-1) took the loss.
 
The Hillcats will close out the tournament tomorrow with games against Maryville and No. 22 Oklahoma Baptist. First pitch against the Saints is set for 11 a.m. with the game against the Bison set for 1:30 p.m.