Box Score OKLAHOMA CITY (April 16, 2015) – Oklahoma Christian broke through for five runs in the fifth inning to rally for a 6-4 win over visiting Rogers State on Saturday afternoon, completing a series sweep of the Hillcats.
OC (24-23, 14-7 Heartland Conference) extended its winning streak to seven games, matching its longest of the softball season. The Lady Eagles remained in third place in the league standings, a game ahead of St. Edward's (Texas). Two OC wins in the Lady Eagles' three-game series next weekend at Oklahoma Panhandle State will clinch a third-place finish.
Rogers State (17-30, 6-15) took a 2-0 lead in the second inning on a disputed play. With the bases loaded and one out, a line drive by Taylor Santistevan appeared to land just outside the right-field foul line, but umpires ruled the ball to be fair and two runs scored.
Kirsten Scott walked and scored on a fielder's choice grounder by
Haley Squier in the third, pulling OC within 2-1, but the Hillcats went up 3-1 in the fourth, as Arika Araujo drew a leadoff walk and scored on a single up the middle by Katlin Alexander.
Through four innings, Rogers State starter Mayra Helguera (3-7) limited OC to one hit, but the Lady Eagles had four hits – two of the infield variety – to seize control in the fifth. Squier's infield single scored pinch-runner
Jourdan Bruce.
Kelsie Finch then reached on an error by shortstop Morgen Blanchard, scoring
Sheridan Bond to tie the game.
Kayla Eichler's sharp single up the middle brought home Squier and pinch-runner
Avery Walker.
Lacey Davidson's sacrifice fly was part of an odd double play, but Finch scored before the third out was recorded to make it 6-3.
OC starter
Madison Hagood (15-9) ran into trouble in the seventh, but her defense helped her out considerably. Squier, in left field, ran a long way to snare a foul pop by Ashleigh Stidman. Katelyn Gamble followed with an RBI double for Rogers State, but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a triple, with Squier hitting shortstop
Lacey Davidson, who threw to third baseman
Bridget White to apply the tag.
Blanchard singled to left with two outs and
Madison Nordyke entered in relief of Hagood. Nordyke retired Araujo on a grounder to Davidson to end the game and record her third save of the season.
OC will host nonconference foe Texas A&M-Commerce for a doubleheader on Tuesday before making the trip to Panhandle State to end the regular season.
