MARYVILLE, Mo. - The No. 4-ranked Rogers State University Hillcats pulled off a doubleheader sweep of the Northwest Missouri State University softball team Friday afternoon.
The Hillcats won the opening game, 11-3, in five innings and then tallied a 4-2 triumph in the second game.
Rogers State is 31-5 overall and 15-1 in MIAA action. Northwest is 17-21 overall and 6-8 in league play.
GAME ONE
The Hillcats used a trio of three-run homers to secure a 11-3, five-inning victory in the first game.
The Bearcat offense was held hitless until the fourth inning when
Lillie Filger led off with a single.
Omara Love reached on an error by RSU shortstop McKayla Carney to put runners on first and second with no outs. Following a flyout by
Skylar Pieper,
Lauren Gray launched her team-leading sixth home run of the season to put a three-spot on the board for the Bearcats.
Northwest starting pitcher
Olivia Moyer was touched up for eight runs (seven earned) on five hits and five walks in 1 1/3 innings pitched. Moyer took the loss to fall to 3-4.
Kylee Rockhold pitched the final 3 2/3 innings. Rockhold allowed three hits and three runs.
GAME TWO
The Hillcats out-hit the Bearcats, 9-2, but had to hang on for a 4-2 win to capture the doubleheader sweep.
Bearcat starter
Jadyn Streigle pitched a strong five innings and allowed nine hits and four runs (all earned). Streigle walked two and struck out one.
Cassidy Paulson pitched two hit-less, scoreless innings in relief.
Rogers State starter Jade Sanders had a no-hitter through four innings before the Bearcats were able to break through.
Abby Nolte led off the fifth with a walk.
Avery Mayberry was able to reach on an error by RSU third baseman Kaylee Lyon.
Gaige Pinkerton grounded out to Sanders in the circle, but both runners moved up on the play.
Lela Bryant came through with a one-out single to center that plated both Nolte and Mayberry to cut the RSU lead to 3-2.
Rogers State added an insurance run in the top of the sixth to up the margin to 4-2.
Northwest brought the tying run to the plate in the seventh after Mayberry singled to center with one out. However, RSU reliever Harley Culie struck out
Gaige Pinkerton and got Bryant to fly out to right to end it.
Northwest will be in action again Saturday with a home doubleheader against Northeastern State. First pitch is set for noon at the Bearcat Softball Field.