CLAREMORE, Okla. — Junior Chloe Cardona tied the single-game hit record and finished perfect at the plate as No. 13 RSU Softball (11-3) split a doubleheader against No. 14 Oklahoma Christian (9-2) on Tuesday.
 
RSU won the first game decisively, 6-1, but fell in a close second matchup, 4-3, in extra innings.
 
Cardona finished the day 6-for-6 with a double and three runs scored. Harley Culie (5-2) outdueled the Eagles' talented ace, striking out eight in seven innings to secure her fifth win of the season.
 
GAME ONE: RSU 6, OC 1
The Hillcats struck first in the opening inning with a two-RBI single from Mariah Belzer, driving home Raylin Morgan and Cardona for an early 2-0 lead.
 
After the Eagles scored their lone run in the fifth inning, Morgan hit her third home run of the season—a three-run shot—to extend RSU's lead to 5-1. Jaden Jordan added insurance later in the inning with a sacrifice fly.
 
Culie put in a clutch performance, pitching all seven innings and finishing with eight strikeouts. Her team-leading strikeout total is now at 56, which ranks third in the MIAA.
 
Cardona tied the single-game hits record with a 4-for-4 outing, including a double, while scoring two runs. Morgan contributed two hits, one a home run and three RBIs. Belzer also tallied two hits and three RBIs.
 
GAME TWO: RSU 3, OC 4 (8 INNINGS)
The Hillcats opened scoring in the second inning with an RBI bunt single from Rylee Bush. RSU added two more runs in the third with an RBI single from Saylor Brown and a sacrifice fly from Belzer, taking a 3-0 lead.
 
However, the Eagles responded with a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly in the fourth to cut the deficit to one, then tied the game in the fifth with an RBI single. The score remained locked at 3-3 after seven innings.
 
In the eighth inning, the Eagles hit a home run to center field, taking their first lead. The Hillcats threatened with a runner in scoring position and one out, but OC secured a 4-3 victory with a pair of strikeouts to end it.
 
Kinsley Hill pitched 3.1 innings, striking out two batters in a no-decision, while Erica Ross contributed 2.3 innings with one strikeout. Selena Zuniga (1-1) was charged with the loss, pitching two innings and recording one strikeout.
 
Cardona had two hits and two walks, contributing a run scored and handling five assists in the field. Belzer recorded one hit, one RBI and also scored a run while executing three assists defensively.

UP NEXT
RSU will return to action next Wednesday at home for a doubleheader against Missouri S&T, starting at 2 p.m.