EDMOND, Okla. - No. 6 Rogers State softball (22-7, 6-4 MIAA) came up short in a Top 10 doubleheader against in-state rival No. 10 Central Oklahoma (23-4, 5-1 MIAA) on Friday.
GAME 1 - UCO 7, RSU 4
The Hillcats got on the board first with a run in the first game of the day for an early 1-0 lead. McKayla Carney got on with a one-out, full-count walk. Abbey Rogers moved her to second with a single through the left side of the infield. Callie Yellin drove in Carney with an RBI single up the middle.
The Bronchos responded with three runs in the second inning and added another in the third to go up 4-1. They tacked on three more runs across the fifth and sixth innings to extend the advantage out to 7-1.
In the top of the seventh, RSU tried to mount a two-out comeback as Carney got things going with a single through the right side of the infield. Rogers followed suit with a single to right. On a 2-2 pitch, Chloe Bohuslavicky blasted a three-run round-tripper to left field. Unfortunately, after loading the bases with three-straight hits, the comeback was halted with a ground ball to the third baseman, who stepped on the bag for the force out and set the final score at 7-4.
Terin Ritz (5-2) earned the win, with Shelby Beard (1) picking up the save. Jade Sanders (7-4) took the loss.
GAME 2 - UCO 3, RSU 2
The second game of the day began similarly as RSU jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Kaylee Lyon led off the game with a single to right and then advanced to second on a McKayla Carney groundout to second. Abbey Rogers brought her in with an RBI single to left.
A two-run homer to right in the home half of the frame put the Bronchos in front 2-1.
From there, the game turned into a pitcher's duel over the next four innings as both starters scattered a combined six hits and left 10 runners stranded in that span.
UCO pushed across another run in the sixth to go up 3-1.
RSU tried to mount another comeback in the seventh as Abbey Rogers launched a solo shot down the left field line with two outs. However, the rally ended there with the final score set at 3-2.
Sydney Ward (6-1) earned the complete game win. Harley Culie (10-2) took the loss.
The Hillcats will need a short memory as they wrap up the road trip tomorrow in Wichita, Kan., facing off against Newman. First pitch for the doubleheader is set for 12 p.m.
