Claremore, Okla. - Oklahoma Christian matched up with the No. 4 Hillcats of Rogers State for the second time this season, after taking RSU on in Oklahoma City at the beginning of the season. OC took the game back in February 5-3, and won game one tonight behind a nine-inning shutout performance from Grace Anderson.
 
Game 1
Grace Anderson and Sara Llamas-Howell started in the circle for game one of what became a pitcher's duel. Both teams had a few opportunities with runners on base but the defensive game plan on both sides kept finding ways out of the jams.
 
The pitchers ruled game one that it would take extra innings to decide the winner.
 
Going into the top of the ninth inning and extra innings rules applied to start with a runner on second, the Eagles finally broke the tie to score three runs. This began with lead-off hitter Brooklin Bain getting the ball into play and forcing the Hillcats to record an error.
 
Kylie Janzen used her speed, scoring from second off this mishap. This would completely shift the momentum and the Eagles would continue to get some runners on base, Karsyn Iltis would then step again in the clutch and score Kallie Rupp from second base.
 
Anderson stepped up to the plate and ripped a single into left field to add one more run to the Eagles lead.
 
Anderson, backed up by the Eagles' defense, shut down the Hillcats in the last inning to take the first game over the fourth-ranked team in the nation.
 
Anderson finished with a nine-inning complete game shutout. This improves Anderson's record on the season to 13-7 and this is her fourth shutout.
 
Game 2
Another pitcher's duel ensued in game two, with Jill Dickson and Jade Sanders each pitching through the nine-inning game.
 
The Eagles stopped the Hillcats' lone scoring opportunity in the first seven innings when Tristyn Hamilton threw out an RSU runner at the plate to end the bottom of the sixth inning.
 
Kristen Whitehouse had OC's lone hit in the third inning and the Eagles threatened in the top of the ninth after each team began extra innings with a runner on second base. Oklahoma Christian moved Kylie Janzen to third on a groundout to open the top of the ninth, but Rogers State held the Eagles off the board.
 
In the bottom of the ninth, Rogers State was able to manufacture a run on a fluky check swing single and split the doubleheader.
 
Noted

• Oklahoma Christian's game one shutout was the first time No. 4 Rogers State had been shutout this season, dating back to almost a year ago today to find the last shutout of the Hillcats.
• Grace Anderson spun the masterful nine-inning shutout en route to her 13th win of the season.
• Jill Dickson also threw an incredible game in game two, holding RSU to just the one run that was aided by the extra inning rules, and spaced out five hits, while striking out six Hillcats.

 
Up Next
OC will return to conference play, traveling to Portales, New Mexico, this weekend to take on Eastern New Mexico, beginning the series Saturday at 1 p.m.