Rogers State put the finishing touches on a four-game season sweep of Missouri Southern State University at Gene Wild Field in Joplin, Mo., on Tuesday.
The No. 25 Hillcats edged the Lions 5-1 in Game 1 and held on for a 3-1 victory in Game 2. RSU scored first in Game 1 when Randi Tyler drew a leadoff walk and scored on a grounder by Taylor Whisenhunt in the top of the first inning. Somer Dykes singled to start the Hillcat fifth and Tyler followed with a single as RSU stretched its lead to 3-0. Missouri Southern plated its only run of the game in the sixth on a pair of singles. RSU added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh to reach the final margin, 5-1. Kelli Dunagan (14-5) earned the win with six innings of work. She allowed one run on four hits while striking out four. Dunagan also paced the Hillcats offensively, going 2-for-3 with an RBI.
Stephanie Eggers (10-4) took the ball for RSU in Game 2 and turned in an equally impressive performance. She tossed a seven-inning complete game and allowed one run on four hits while striking out six. The Hillcats backed Eggers with a run in the first and two more in the seventh. MSSU broke up Eggers’ bid for a shutout with three consecutive two-out singles in the seventh. Eggers stranded the tying run at first base when she induced pinch-hitter Sam Neely into a game-ending line out at second base. Tyler and Sydni Jones had two hits a piece for the Hillcats.
Coach Dawn Reed’s club improved to 24-9 with the pair of victories. RSU completed a perfect 4-0 record against MSSU for the season. The Hillcats swept a doubleheader from the Lions on Opening Day at the Hillcat Complex, Feb. 17.
RSU will participate in the Capital City Classic this weekend at Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City. The Hillcats will face Northwestern Oklahoma State at 4 p.m. and Columbia (Columbia, Mo.) College at 6 p.m. Friday. Both games will be aired live on RSU Radio 91.3 FM.