RSU Sports
Tim Hanson, Sports Information Director
ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The Rogers State softball team secured its first two wins of the season, both by large margins, as the Hillcats defeated Lincoln (Mo.), 9-1, and Henderson State, 9-0, in dominating fashion on the second day of the Ronnie Hawkins Invitational on Saturday (Feb. 4). With the victories, RSU finished 2-2 at the event during the two days.
De’Leigh Emarthle hit two home runs during the day, and Megan Rosewell registered both of the wins in the circle to propel the Hillcats to a 2-0 performance.
Rogers State 9, Lincoln (Mo.) 1
RSU used a big third inning to pull away for a 9-1 win over Lincoln. The Cats plated six runs in the inning after totaling three in the first inning to get the victory in five innings.
Emarthle started the scoring with a two-run homer to right field to give the Hillcats an early 2-0 lead. Taylor Santistevan singled to right to bring in one more run for the 3-0 advantage after one inning.
The Cats ramped up the scoring again in the third inning with six runs. With the bases loaded, Kayla Patterson doubled to right center to bring in the three base runners and doubled the score to 6-0. Patterson scored after a wild pitch. The final RSU runs came on a double by Katelyn Gamble to plate Ashley Williams and Harli Wheeler for a 9-0 score.
The Blue Tigers got one run on the board in the fourth inning with an RBI double for the 9-1 final score.
Seven Hillcats finished with hits, including the top three in the lineup. Emarthle went 2-for-3 with two RBI and one run scored.
Rosewell went the full 5.0 innings in the circle, giving up only four hits and the one run. She struck out three to get her first win of the season.
Rogers State 9, Henderson State 0
In the final game of the weekend, RSU scored runs in each of the third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings to win, 9-0, in six innings over Henderson State.
The Cats started with two runs in the third inning. Morgen Blanchard plated the first run on a fielder’s choice that scored Wheeler. A sac fly by Emarthle upped the advantage to 2-0.
The navy and red used the long ball to score the next three runs over the next two innings. Kayla Patterson continued her strong weekend with a solo home run in the fourth inning. Emarthle added another home run to her day as she hit a two-run shot to center to make it 5-0 in the fifth inning.
Pinch-hitting in the sixth inning, Ali Turner delivered with a double that plated three runs, improving the lead to 8-0. An error by the HSU shortstop allowed the final run of the game to score as Katelyn Gamble reached and Turner scored for the 9-0 final margin.
The top of the lineup produced again with the first three hitters totaling at least one hit. Emarthle hit in the three spot and went 2-for-3 with three RBI and one run scored. For the day, she went 4-for-6 with five RBI and two home runs. The Cats finished with six hits in the game.
Rosewell kept the Reddies scoreless as she allowed only three hits in 6.0 innings. She struck out one to pick up the win, her second of the day, moving her to 2-1 on the season.
The Hillcats (2-2) go on the road to Mid-America Christian on Thursday (Feb. 9) for a doubleheader at 1 p.m. in Oklahoma City, Okla.