Alva Review-Courier -

CLAREMORE, Okla. – The Rogers State softball team pulled out to a 10-2 win in game one of a doubleheader, but dropped a tight game two, 6-5, to Newman on Thursday (April 13) to start a three-game Heartland Conference series at the Diamond Sports Complex. Mikayla Waggnor finished the doubleheader going 3-for-5 with five RBI.

Rogers State 10, Newman 1

The Hillcats (26-17, 5-9 Heartland) used two strong innings to pull away for a 10-2 win in five innings in game one. RSU plated six runs in the second inning and added four more runs in the fourth to build a 10-0 advantage en route to the 10-2 victory.

With the bases loaded and two outs in the second, the Cats scored six runs. The spurt started with an infield single from Katelyn Gamble to score Kayla Patterson. Harli Wheeler worked a walk with the bases loaded for a 2-0 score. The lead increased to 4-0 with an infield single by Kenzie Lloyd and an error. Morgen Blanchard upped the edge to 6-0 when she hit a two-run single to center to plate Lloyd and Wheeler.

In the fourth inning RSU added four runs for a 10-0 score. Taylor Santistevan tallied an RBI single to center to score Blanchard for RSU's third straight hit of the inning. Blanchard and Arikia Araujo tallied singles to start the inning to put two on. Waggnor propelled the Cats to a 10-0 margin with a towering three-run home run to the road out in left field. The bomb scored Patterson and Carson DuBose along with Waggnor.

The Jets got on the scoreboard with two late unearned runs in the fifth, but the eight-run lead for the Hillcats was enough to end the game after five innings due to the run rule.

Waggnor registered a perfect 2-for-2 performance at the plate with three RBI. Blanchard finished 2-for-3 with two RBI. Araujo, Santistevan and Day each posted two hits as the Hillcats tallied 13 hits in the win.

Megan Rosewell earned the win in the circle with a complete-game 5.0 inning start. She allowed only five hits and two unearned runs in only 57 pitches. The junior moved to 21-13 on the season.

Newman 6, Rogers State 5

RSU fell just short in erasing a five-run deficit as the Cats dropped a 6-5 decision to the Jets in the nightcap.

NU plated five runs in the fourth inning to gain a 6-1 advantage. The Jets started the inning with three straight singles to load the bases. After an out at the plate, NU singled through the infield to go up 2-1. A double to the wall in right added two more runs to up the advantage to 4-1. The lead continued to grow due to a sac bunt and an error for the 6-1 margin after four innings.

The Cats battled back with two runs in each of the fifth and sixth innings. After two infield singles, Blanchard drove in two runs, hitting a double to left to score Lloyd and Gamble for a 6-3 score.

In the sixth inning, Waggnor totaled her second home run of the day, a two-run laser to center field to pull the Hillcats to within one run at 6-5.

Carrying all the momentum into the seventh inning, the navy and red put the tying run on after a Blanchard single. With the Hillcats looking to bunt Blanchard into scoring position, NU made an incredible game-ending double play. A diving play by third and the throw over to first base closed out the game.

Blanchard went 3-for-4 with two RBI in game two. Lloyd closed out the day going 2-for-4 with one run scored. Waggnor finished 1-for-3 with two RBI. For the day, Waggnor went 3-for-5 with five RBI.

The three-game series concludes tomorrow (April 14) at 12 p.m. at the Diamond Sports Complex. Coverage will be available on the Hillcat Network at http://www.rsuhillcats.com/live.