EDMOND, Okla. - In two games which showcased two of Division II's best teams Friday between No. 4 Rogers State softball (34-8, 17-3 MIAA) and No. 8 Central Oklahoma (35-7, 15-1 MIAA), UCO was victorious in both games. UCO won the first game 8-2 and the second game 5-4.
 
With the loss, it is RSU's first back-to-back losses of the season.
 
GAME 1 - UCO 8, RSU 2
 
RSU had a nightmare start, when Sara Llamas-Howell surrendered two walks and three hits in the bottom of the first. Rogers State found themselves trailing 4-0 after one inning of play.
 
RSU got on the board in the top of the second when Kaylee Lyon tallied an RBI single, which allowed Abbey Rogers to score from third after she got on earlier with a single.
 
UCO matched the one run in the bottom half when Terin Ritz hit a solo shot to center field, making the score 5-1.
 
Both teams got runners on base, but could not advance them home over the next three frames.
 
Harley Culie came into relieve Llamas-Howell in the bottom of the fifth and earned a strikeout to get RSU out of the inning, which was one of two strikeouts in this game she logged.
 
The Bronchos scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to go up 8-1 headed into the top of the seventh inning.
 
RSU did not go down without a fight, as Ashtyn Barrett hit a solo home run in the top of the seventh. However, it was too little too late as RSU suffered an 8-2 loss.
 
Terin Ritz (17-3) earned the win while Llamas-Howell (16-5) took the loss.
 
GAME 2 - UCO 5, RSU 4
 
The Hillcats got off to a hot start to open the second game of the day as Bridgett Morales drew a two-out a walk to start things. Abbey Rogers brought her home with a two-run blast over the left field fence for an early 2-0 lead.
 
UCO got on the board and tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the fourth with the runs coming in on an RSU error, and a base hit.
 
Like good teams do, the Hillcats answered in the top of the fifth inning to retake the lead 4-2. McKayla Carney hit a shot off the right field fence for a single. Two at bats later, Rogers singled to center, which allowed Carney to score. After Bobbi Lethia pinch ran for Rogers, she got to third when Callie Yellin hit a single and scored when Kaylee Lyon hit a sac fly to center field.
 
UCO made things interesting in the bottom of the sixth inning when UCO scored a run off a base hit, but Lyon later snagged a line drive which may have saved two runs. Harley Culie came in to relieve Sanders in the sixth and RSU held a 4-3 lead coming into the home stretch.
 
RSU could not add any insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning.
 
Unfortunately, UCO loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom half, which lead to Sanders returning and relieving Culie. A wild pitch ended the game as the ball went off Yellin's glove to the backstop. She was able to get the ball back at lightning speed and nearly made the tag at home, however the runner was called safe, making the final score 5-4.
 
Shelby Beard (4-0) took the win. Culie (5-1) took the loss.
 
RSU returns to action tomorrow as they take on Newman in Wichita, Kan. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.