Alva Review-Courier -

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – In a clash between two hot teams, the Rogers State softball team dropped two games of a doubleheader at Oklahoma City, the No. 1-ranked and undefeated team in NAIA, on Tuesday (March 7) at Ann Lacy Stadium. The Stars took game one, 6-2, and prevailed, 6-0, in the second game.

The game one loss snapped an eight-game winning streak for the Cats, and the Stars extended their winning streak to 29-straight games

Oklahoma City 6, Rogers State 2

The Hillcats (16-5) held a slight 2-1 edge heading into the bottom of the fifth inning, but the host Stars scored four runs, all unearned, in the fifth to rally for a 6-2 win.

After the Stars (24-0) tied the score at 2-2 in the fifth, Madison Ellis put OCU on top with a three-run home run to left field for a 5-2 advantage. The Stars took advantage of an RSU miscue as an error extended the inning. OCU added an insurance run in the sixth inning on an RBI single to right.

In the first inning, the Stars gained a 1-0 lead on an RBI single, but the Hillcats plated the next two runs to go up, 2-1, after four innings.

Katelyn Gamble started the third inning with a single through the infield, and RSU had two on after De'Leigh Emarthle walked on four straight pitches. A Star throwing error allowed Kayla Patterson to reach first and Gamble to score to even the score at 2-2.

With runners at the corners in the fourth inning after an Ali Turner single to right, the Cats took the 3-2 edge on a double steal from Mikayla Waggnor and Ashley Williams. Waggnor came home from third to score the RSU run. The navy and red had an opportunity to add to the lead, but Williams was thrown out at home as she tried to score on a ball hit to the shortstop. A lineout and fielder's choice ended the inning.

Megan Rosewell suffered her first loss in the last nine starts, dropping to 14-3 on the season. She pitched six innings and allowed nine hits and six runs with two strikeouts.

The Cats picked up hits from the bottom part of their lineup as Turner, Taylor Santistevan and Gamble each had one hit from the seven, eight and nine spots in the lineup.

Oklahoma City 6, Rogers State 0

The high-scoring RSU offense was shutout for the first time this season in a 6-0 loss in the nightcap.

For the second straight game, the host Stars struck first as they totaled two runs in the first inning. A double to the gap in left scored the first run, and an RBI groundout made it 2-0 after one inning.

OCU doubled its lead in the second inning with two unearned runs. Another run-scoring groundout upped the edge to 3-0, and a single through the infield increased the score to 4-0.

In the fourth inning, the Stars added their final runs with an infield single and a double steal for the final 6-0 margin.

The Hillcats were held to two hits, their lowest performance since the opening day of the season against Missouri Western. Emarthle went 1-for-2, and Arika Araujo finished 1-for-3 for the two RSU hits.

Mayra Helguera (2-1) started in the circle, getting her first loss of the season. The senior went 2.0 innings and allowed five hits and four runs. Freshman Edie Fairchild came in for the final 4.0 innings and allowed three hits.

OCU's Jaden Shores and Georgia Wall combined for the two-hitter. Shores started and went the first 5.0 innings and allowed one hit with four strikeouts. Wall came in for the final 2.0 innings and gave up the second hit.

The Hillcats (16-5) begin Heartland Conference play this weekend at St. Edward's in Austin, Texas. The three-game set opens on Friday (March 10) with a single game at 3 p.m. The series concludes on Saturday (March 11) with a doubleheader at 10 a.m.