Claremore Daily Progress

Sports

March 11, 2010

Hillcats split with USAO in softball

Tim Ritter Sports Editor

CLAREMORE — Rogers State University freshman designated player Linsey Curtis was held to two hits in nine at-bats, but it was her second hit in Game 2 that spoke volumes about her season.

In the top of the sixth inning, Curtis blasted her second grand slam of the season and moved within one homer of tying RSU assistant coach Jenny Johnson’s single-season record of 14 bombs.

Ol’ Lucky No. 13 flew out of the park to trim Science & Arts of Oklahoma’s lead to 10-9, which was the closest the Hillcats would get to in the game.

The Hillcats actually led 5-3 after three complete innings, highlighted by Ashley Fauchier’s leadoff double in the first, followed by Sarah Harvey’s sacrifice fly to right field which scored Fauchier from third base.

With the game knotted at 1-1, the Hillcats exploded for three runs in the top of the second via back-to-back singles by Dina Ortiz and Katie Bointy, as well as Brittany White’s RBI-double.

Bointy later scored on a passed ball, and White put the Hillcats ahead, 4-1 on Jodi Patterson’s sacrifice fly to right field. After two innings, the Hillcats had four runs on five hits.

Ortiz extended the Hillcats’ lead to 5-1 in the third inning, lacing an RBI single to left field that scored Angelina Vines.

In the bottom of the third, USAO plated a pair of runs to cut the Hillcats’ lead to 5-3.

After holding the Hillcats scoreless through the fourth and fifth innings, USAO ‘s offense soared with seven runs to overtake the 10-5 lead.

Taryn Hernandez, pitching in relief of starter Tye Coats, was charged with her first loss of the season, giving up seven runs on nine hits in three innings.

In Game 1, the Hillcats roared past USAO, 8-3 as six batters had two hits each in the game.

The Hillcats led 3-0 after the first four innings and blasted USAO’s pitching staff for five runs in the top of the seventh inning.

Coats got the Hillcats on the board in the top of the first inning with an RBI single to left field, scoring pinch runner Katrina Loy, who came in for Hernandez after she drew the walk.

Fauchier’s RBI double to center field plated White and extended the Hillcats’ lead to 2-0 in the top of the second inning.

The lead grew to 3-0 in the top of the fourth as the Hillcats got a triple from White, who later scored on Fauchier’s RBI single. Loy also singled in the inning.

The Hillcats roared for five more runs in the seventh as Patterson’s RBI double scored Marie Gaudet, followed by Harvey’s 2-run single.

Gaudet and Shelby Brogdon each singled in the inning, and White added another RBI double.

Trailing 8-0, USAO’s rally came up short with only three runs in the bottom of the seventh on four hits and one fielding error.

Coats recorded her 11th win after allowing three runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and two walks.

Ashlyn Kimberly suffered the loss for USAO, allowing eight runs on 15 hits.

With the split series, the Hillcats improved to 17-5 overall and 4-1 in the Sooner Athletic Conference.

The Hillcats return to non-conference action on Friday and Saturday at the Evangel Tournament in Springfield, Mo.

 

Text Only
Sports
  • TB-23Hatweb.jpg COLUMN: 'Cardiac Cats' chasing history

    Seven years in the making...

    On a grass sandlot behind Atwoods, the dream of reaching the NAIA World Series was just getting started for the Rogers State University Hillcat baseball team.

    Head coach Ron Bradley, who had won state championships at West Fork (Ark.), Claremore and Jenks, was the perfect fit for breathing life into a soon-to-be baseball powerhouse on the Hill.

    What may have been a dream back then when the Hillcats were practicing in T-shirts, worn-out baseball pants and cleats, is not so anymore as RSU is among the nation's elite competing this week for their first-ever NAIA National Championship.

    May 28, 2012 3 Photos

  • NCAA Baseball tournament field announced

    Three college baseball teams from the area will continue their chase toward a berth in the 2012 College World Series as the NCAA Tournament brackets were announced today.

    Oklahoma, Oral Roberts University and Arkansas advanced to the NCAA Baseball Championships after competing in their respective conference tournaments.

     

    May 28, 2012

  • Johnson holds on to win Colonial

    Zach Johnson was so caught up in the emotion of another Colonial title and a victory in honor of his caddie’s late father that he forgot to properly remark his ball before his final putt.

    Even with a two-stroke penalty, Johnson won by one over Jason Dufner and got to slip on the plaid jacket Sunday for his first victory since also winning at Hogan’s Alley two years ago.

    May 28, 2012

  • Team101web.jpg It's a recipe for success

    Oklahoma softball coach Patty Gasso was answering questions Saturday after her Sooners clinched another return to the Women’s College World Series when, without really meaning to, she began to make it clear her job has, sort of, become gloriously boring.

    May 28, 2012 1 Photo

  • ReineCody301web.jpg BIG 12 BASEBALL TOURNAMENT: Mizzou clips OU for title

    Oklahoma wanted to win its first Big 12 tournament in 16 years on Sunday. Missouri needed to win it to get in the NCAA Tournament. Need topped desire at Bricktown Ballpark.

    The Tigers held on to win 8-7, claim the tournament title and the conference’s automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.

    May 28, 2012 1 Photo

  • NCAA BASEBALL: OU heading to Virginia regional

    Oklahoma knew it had a spot in the NCAA baseball tournament. Where it would go was the lingering question. Monday, the question was answered.

    The Sooners (38-21) were given the No. 2 seed in the Charlottesville, Va. regional. It will face third-seeded Appalachian State on Friday. Top-seeded Virginia and fourth-seeded Army round out the four-team field.

    May 28, 2012

  • WEST FINALS: Spurs edge Thunder in thrilling Game 1

    Trailing in the fourth quarter, Gregg Popovich snarled an order in the huddle that the NBA Coach of the Year punctuated with a sharp and angry sweep of his hand.
    "I want some nasty!"
    But truthfully, Popovich was already getting what he really wanted: the San Antonio Spurs finally in a game they might actually lose.
    Popovich's caught-on-camera "nasty" command in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals is likely coming soon to T-shirts, Internet memes and the lexicon of the NBA playoffs for the foreseeable future. But after beating the Oklahoma City Thunder 101-98 on Sunday night for their 19th win in a row - tying the NBA record for longest winning streak kept alive in the playoffs - Popovich wasn't flustered by the near-loss.

    May 28, 2012

  • NL ROUNDUP: Reds 7, Rockies 5

    Here's how easy it looked to hit home runs at Great American Ball Park on Sunday: Todd Frazier lost his grip on the bat during a swing.
    The ball wound up in the seats anyway.
    Frazier's homer helped the Cincinnati Reds out-bash the Colorado Rockies 7-5 in a game that set a record for the 10-year-old stadium with nine home runs.

    May 28, 2012

  • NL ROUNDUP: Pirates 10, Cubs 4

    Andrew McCutchen and the Pittsburgh Pirates can relate to what the Chicago Cubs are going through.
    Perhaps more than anyone, they know what it feels like to be on an extended losing streak - 12 in a row, in the Cubs' case.
    The Pirates used that to their advantage Sunday.
    McCutchen, Pedro Alvarez and Garrett Jones homered, Erik Bedard pitched six shutout innings and the Pirates won 10-4, extending the Cubs' longest skid in 15 years.

    May 28, 2012

  • NL ROUNDUP: Cardinals 8, Phillies 3

    Another Philadelphia Phillies star is ailing.
    Two-time Cy Young winner Roy Halladay gave up a grand slam to Yadier Molina in an abbreviated two-inning start before leaving with shoulder soreness in an 8-3 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday. Halladay pitched with the injury the last few innings of his last start, and cutting back on throwing between outings didn't help.

    May 28, 2012