RSU Sports
Tim Hanson, Sports Information Director
LAREDO, Texas – The Rogers State softball team suffered two tough extra-inning walk-off losses at Texas A&M International on Friday (April 6) at Dustdevil Field. An RBI single in the eighth of game one gave the Dustdevils a 2-1 win, and TAMIU was victorious, 3-2, in the 11th inning of game two to sweep the doubleheader.
RSU fell to 11-8 in Heartland Conference play and dropped to fourth in the league standings. TAMIU improved to 13-10 and stayed fifth in the league.
TAMIU 2, RSU 1 (8 innings)
The Hillcats took an early 1-0 lead, but the host Dustdevils tied the score at 1-1 in the fourth inning and won on a walk-off single up the middle in the bottom of the extra-inning eighth for the 2-1 score.
In the third inning, freshman Merissa Smith drove in RSU’s only run of the game with a single to right to plate Katelyn Gamble for a 1-0 edge.
TAMIU knocked out a solo home run in the fourth inning to knot the score at 1-1.
The Dustdevils led off the eighth inning with a single and used a sacrifice bunt to put the baserunner in scoring position. After a single to left put runners at the corners, TAMIU ended the game with a single up the middle for the 2-1 win.
Tailee Reding went 2-for-4 in the game. Smith was 1-for-3 with one RBI.
Senior Alex Brake started in the circle, going 7.1 innings. She posted five strikeouts with six hits allowed and two earned runs. She dropped to 10-3 on the season.
TAMIU 3, RSU 2 (11 innings)
The navy and red held a 2-1 late in game two, but the Dustdevils tied the score at 2-2 in the bottom of the seventh before a solo home run in the 11th inning propelled TAMIU to a 3-2 victory and a twinbill sweep.
After going behind 1-0 in the fourth inning on a homer to left, the Hillcats tallied two runs in the sixth inning to go up 2-1. Smith doubled to right to score Gamble to tie the score at 1-1. Danelle Day gave RSU the lead at 2-1 with a single up the middle to bring home Smith.
The seventh inning saw the Dustdevils even the score at 2-2 with a single to right to extend the game. The marathon game finally came to a close with a walk-off solo home run to right field in the 11th for the host Devils.
Smith finished 2-for-5 with one RBI in the nightcap.
Andrea Morales started in the circle in game two and went 8.0 innings with five strikeouts and five hits allowed. Reding went 2.2 innings with six strikeouts and two hits given up.
The Hillcats conclude the three-game series at Texas A&M International on Saturday (April 7) at 12 p.m. in Laredo, Texas. Live stats and video streaming will be available for the finale.