By Erica Taylor
Edmond, Okla. – The Rogers State softball team opened a four-game road trip with a pair of losses at Oklahoma Christian on Thursday afternoon.
The Hillcats were unable to bounce back from the doubleheader sweep they suffered on Monday against Oklahoma Baptist. OC claimed a 1-0 win in the opener and used a six-run fourth inning to propel them to an 11-3 run-rule in the nightcap.
In game one, the Hillcats were unable to drive in a run in the top of the first, despite a led off triple to left-centerfield by senior Brittany White.
Ashley Wailand (10-7) registered the loss in the circle for the Hillcats. The junior hurler completed one and two third innings and allowed one run on three hits with one walk while fanning one hitter.
RSU collected just four hits in the contest while committing two errors. Ashley Paxton pitched the complete game shutout for OC as she allowed just one walk with eight strikeouts.
In game two, the nightcap started much like the opener. White led off the inning with a triple to center field however; the Hillcats came up short as OCU pitcher Leigh Leonard retired the next three hitters.
The Lady Eagles used three hits and a RSU error to take a 1-0 advantage in the second.
RSU rallied with three runs in the top of the third. Edwards led off the inning with a double off the wall in left field. A single through the middle by White put runners on first and third.
Freshman Taran Threet sent both base runners across home plate as she belted a double to the wall in left field. Senior Sarah Harvey sent Threet home with a single through the gap at shortstop.
OC cut the Cats lead to one run with a RBI triple by Davee Croy. The Lady Eagles used six hits to plate six runs in the fourth to push their lead to 8-3.
The Cats left runners on first and third in the top of the fifth and OC ended the contest early in the bottom of the inning with three runs on four hits and two errors to complete the run-rule.
Edwards (12-4) suffered the loss in the circle for the Cats. The sophomore tossed four and one third innings and allowed eight runs, six earned, on 14 hits with five strikeouts. The Trail, British Columbia native went 2-for-2 from the plate with one run scored while White and Harvey each went 2-for-3 in the nightcap.
RSU Softball will return home Apr. 2 to face Southern Nazerene. Double-header is set for 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.