ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – No. 6 Rogers State softball (18-5, 4-2 MIAA) opened the road trip with a doubleheader split against Missouri Western (15-8, 4-2 MIAA) on Thursday.
 
GAME 1 – MWSU 6, RSU 3
 
After a scoreless inning and a half to start the day's first game, the Griffons got on the board first in the bottom of the second with a three-run double to right center.
 
The Hillcats responded with three runs of their own in the top of the third to knot things at 3-3. Brooke Nauman led off the frame with an infield single and then moved to second on a Karlee Smith sacrifice bunt. Kaylee Lyon put runners on the corners with a single to left center. Abbey Rogers drove them in later in the inning with a double to right center. Chloe Bohuslavicky capped off the frame with an RBI single to second, scoring Rogers.
 
Western pushed across two more runs in the home half to go back up 5-3 off two RBI singles up the middle. They tacked on one final insurance run in the fifth to seal the 6-3 win with an RBI triple to right.
 
MWSU's Sydney Rader (10-3) earned the win. Jade Sander (6-3) took the loss.
 
GAME 2 – RSU 1, MWSU 0
 
The second game was a complete shift in tone as it was an old-fashioned pitchers' duel. The two starting pitchers worked six shutout innings masterfully, combining to scatter three hits and only leave four runners stranded in that span.
 
However, in the top of the seventh, looking to avoid extra innings, Chole Bohuslavicky gave RSU life as she got on with a one-out single through the left side of the infield. Callie Yellin later reached on a fielder's choice. A Mariah Belzer single to right put runners at first and second with two outs. A fielding error by the third baseman allowed Yellin to score from second, putting the Hillcats up 1-0.
 
The Griffons threatened in the bottom half as they put the tying and winning runs in scoring position with two outs. However, Harley Culie slammed the door with a game-ending strikeout to secure the win for RSU.
 
Culie (8-1) earned the complete game shutout, scattering two hits with eight strikeouts. Ashlyn Finarty (3-1) took the loss.
 
The Hillcats will continue the road trip on Friday as they travel to Maryville, Mo. to face off against Northwest Missouri. First pitch for the doubleheader is set for 11 a.m.