Hillcats Sweep Lady Evangels

The Rogers State softball team remains unbeaten on the season as the Hillcats broke out the brooms on Thursday afternoon, completing the four-game sweep over Mid-America Christian with a pair of wins at the Diamond Sports Complex.

In the opener, the Hillcats posted 11 hits and cruised to an 11-0 victory in a five-inning run-rule. RSU had to come-from-behind in the nightcap as MACU took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. RSU tied the game in bottom of the third while tallying four runs in the fifth and sixth, including a three-run home run in both innings by Katrina Loy, to earn a 10-2 short game win in six innings.

GAME ONE

RSU set the tone early with six runs on four hits in the bottom of the first. Jamie King led off the inning with single to left field and advance to third on two consecutive pass balls by the catcher. Cailin Simpson and Candace Monigold tallied back-to-back walks while King put RSU on the scoreboard as she stole home. Shona Guerrero belted a two RBI single to left and Taran Threet slapped a one RBI single to left field. Linsey Curtis and Niki Keck both registered RBI groundouts to round out the scoring in the inning.

Guerrero pushed the lead to 8-0 in the second frame with a two RBI single to shallow centerfield, sending King and Simpson home after singling earlier in the inning.

With bases loaded in the bottom of the third, a MACU error led to a pair of runs scored as left fielder Tori Winters dropped a fly ball hit by Candace Monigold, allowing two runs to score. Katie Ellington capped the scoring in the contest with a RBI single to shallow left field.

Laura Fleck (12-0) tallied the win in the circle for RSU, allowing three hits with seven strikeouts in four innings of work. Linsey Curtis closed out the fifth inning, facing the minimum.

GAME TWO

Tiffany Holt and Erica Love each tallied a RBI single in the top of the first frame to give MACU a 2-0 advantage in the nightcap.

The Lady Evangels held RSU scoreless until the bottom of the third. Toni Shurtliff led off the inning with a double and moved to third on a single by Ashlie Fauchier. RSU made their way onto the scoreboard with a pass ball that allowed Shurtliff to reach home. A RBI single by Monigold tied the game.

RSU took over in the fifth. Fleck faced the minimum in the top of the inning and the Hillcats gained the lead in the bottom of the inning. Fauchier led off with a bunt single and moved to second with a sacrifice bunt by King. Fauchier stole third and a wild throw by the catcher allowed her to advance home and give the Cats the advantage. Loy gave the Hillcats some breathing room with a three-run home run belted over the left field fence. The senior from Claremore, Okla. ended the game early with a three-run bomb in the bottom of the sixth.

Fleck went the distance in the circle in the nightcap, allowing two runs on six hits with six strikeouts.