PITTSBURG, Kan. — A pair of home runs each from
Raelle Gorman and
Jaden Jordan propelled No. 6 seed Rogers State (37-19) to a 9-4 victory over host No. 2 seed Pittsburg State (45-10) in the first game of the NCAA Central Regional on Thursday at the Pittsburg State Softball Field.
Pittsburg State struck first, scoring one run in the first inning with Heather Arnett crossing the plate on Sailor Hall's RBI single. The Gorillas added two more runs in the second inning with Rachael Schlotter and Arnett scoring, aided by a throwing error.
RSU responded in the third inning.
Chloe Cardona doubled to right center, setting the stage for Gorman's (3) two-run homer. Jordan (14) followed with a solo home run, tying the game at 3–3.
In the fifth inning, Gorman homered again, this time to right center, giving the Hillcats a 4–3 lead. The Hillcat offense exploded in the sixth inning.
Karlee Smith's single drove in two runs, and Gorman scored on a wild pitch. Jordan capped the inning with a two-run homer, extending the Cats' lead to 9–3.
The Gorillas managed to add one more run in the seventh inning with Haili Igou scoring on Lexi Davis' RBI single, but it wasn't enough to catch up. RSU closed out the game with a final score of 9–4.
Harley Culie (21-6) delivered a strong performance in the circle for the Hillcats, pitching a complete game in her 31st start of the season. Culie allowed nine hits and four runs, with three of those runs being earned. She issued four walks but countered with 10 strikeouts. Culie threw 126 pitches, with 72 of them being strikes, and earned her 21st win of the season.
Gorman scored three runs and hit two home runs, driving in three RBIs. Jordan also contributed with two home runs, tallying three RBIs and scoring two runs. Smith added two hits, bringing in two RBIs and scoring once.
RSU will return to action tomorrow against No. 11 UCO tomorrow morning at 11 a.m. The Hillcats are 3-0 against the Bronchos this season, with the latest win coming in the MIAA Tournament Semifinals.
