EMPORIA, Kan. — For the fifth time in six years, RSU Softball (36-18) has punched its ticket to the MIAA Championship game, following a 7-5 thriller against No. 12 Central Oklahoma (42-13) in the MIAA Tournament Semifinal. Friday's game was held at the Trussell Sports Complex in Emporia, Kansas.
The Hillcats avenged their 2025 Championship game loss against the Bronchos with the victory. They also improved to 3-0 against UCO this season.
In the second inning,
Mariah Belzer singled to right field, and
Halle Bucktrot's RBI single to center field allowed Belzer to score.
Chloe Cardona reached on a throwing error, enabling Bucktrot to score an unearned run. RSU led 2–0 by the end of the second inning.
Central Oklahoma responded in the fifth inning when Hannah Demoff hit a solo home run to right center, cutting the lead to 2–1.
The sixth inning saw the Hillcats extend their lead as
Karlee Smith walked, and
Saylor Brown (3) hit a two-run homer to left field. Another RBI single by Bucktrot scored
Raylin Morgan, pushing the score to 5–1. The Bronchos answered back with four runs, including a two-RBI double by Jenna Jobe, evening the score at 5–5.
In the seventh inning, Cardona singled and later scored on a two-run homer by
Raelle Gorman, her first homer of the season, giving RSU a 7–5 lead. Central Oklahoma failed to score in their final at-bat, as Smith made a spectacular catch in center field to seal the championship berth.
Senior
Harley Culie (20-9) pitched her 20th complete game of the season for the Cats in her 29th start, throwing 7.0 innings with 106 pitches, 73 of which were strikes. Culie allowed eight hits and five earned runs, while striking out four batters.
Gorman recorded two RBIs and a home run, contributing significantly to the scoring. Brown matched Gorman's performance with two RBIs and a home run. Bucktrot added to the offense with two hits and two RBIs. Belzer also shined with a 2-for-2 outing with a run and walk.
RSU will return to the championship game for the third year in a row and will take on the No. 1 seed, seventh-ranked Missouri Southern tomorrow in Emporia, Kansas. First pitch is scheduled for noon.
