Last week, the Rogers State University Hillcats of Claremore, Oklahoma, were crowned co-champions of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) for the first time in the softball program's history.
This week, they have traveled down the Turnpike to Edmond, where they were taking on Missouri Southern today -- Thursday, May 2 – to start the MIAA Softball Championship series.
Ranked No. 12 nationally in NCAA Division II softball, Rogers State captured their first-ever MIAA Regular Season crown after they were named co-champions as they swept Fort Hays State (26-24, 10-16 MIAA) in the regular season finale doubleheader on Senior Day Saturday (April 27).
With the two wins over the Tigers and as a result of No. 9 Pittsburg State sweeping No. 5 Central Oklahoma, RSU claimed their second MIAA title after winning the 2022 MIAA Tournament Championship enroute to the 2022 National Championship.
( https://www.citynewsokc.com/sports/lady-bronchos-double-header-will-drive-post-season-success/article_d6aad476-03ee-11ef-a62b-5fff3c34fb8a.html )
Last Saturday's GAME 1 – RSU 7, FHSU 0
The Hillcats were dominant on both sides of the ball in the first game, taking a 2-0 lead in the first inning. After Paxton Donaldson led off the frame with a single to left, Abbey Rogers belted a 2-0 pitch way over the left field corner for a two-run moon shot.
They tacked on four more runs in the fourth inning to push out to a 6-0 run.
McKayla Carney laced a single up the middle that drove in Chelsea Spain.
Rogers again came up big with a two RBI single to right that plated Donaldson and Carney.
Callie capped off the frame as he scored Bobbi Leitha, who pinch ran for Rogers, with a single through the left side of the infield.
RSU added one final run in the sixth to set the final score at 6-0 as Rogers went yard again, this time to left center with a solo shot.
Sara Llamas-Howell (19-6) earned the win in a nearly untouchable 5.2 inning start, scattering two hits with nine strikeouts.
Harley Culie was also excellent in 1.1 innings out of the bullpen, also scattering two hits with one strikeout. Savannah Egger (14-11) took the loss.
Last Saturday's GAME 2 – RSU 5, FHSU 0
The second game was more of the same as the Hillcats raced out to a 4-0 lead to start things.
Kaylee Lyon got things rolling as she brought in Paxton Donaldson with a sacrifice fly to right.
Facing a 3-1 count, Callie Yellin unloaded on a ball sending it screaming over the left field fence for a three-run round-tripper that scored McKayla Carney and Abbey Rogers.
RSU tacked on one final run in the third to seal the 5-0 win with Lyon getting in on the home run fun with a long ball deep over the left center field wall.
Jade Sanders (15-3) was electric in the complete game shutout win, scattering three hits with five strikeouts.
Morgan Schmidt (8-12) took the loss.
With those victories, and with the tiebreaker over Pittsburg State, the Hillcats earned the No. 1 seed and were taking on Missouri Southern (which won the play-in game on Wednesday).
The MIAA championship series is unfolding right now at Gerry Pinkston Stadium on the campus of Central Oklahoma.
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