Freshman pitcher M’Kayla Hillman became the first Hillcat to throw a perfect game in Rogers State Softball history on Wednesday, as the No. 22 Hillcats (14-2) swept a doubleheader with Texas Woman’s University.
Rogers State saw pitcher Andrea Morales reach a career milestone in game one’s 9-3 victory, before Hillman tossed the perfect game against the Pioneers (3-9), who defeated defending national champion and No. 1 Augustana earlier this season. The Hillcats picked up a 12-0 win in the second game.
How it Happened (Game 1): The Hillcats would strike first in the game with a Payton Stroud sacrifice fly scoring Makayla Waggnor to give the Hillcats a 1-0 lead in the second inning.
In the third, the Hillcats would score eight runs to open up a gap that they would not relinquish. Danelle Day would start off the inning with a double to left center, followed by a single from Jaylan Gibson. Elexis Watson then stepped up to blast a three-run home run over the scoreboard in right center.
The Navy and Red would then load up to bases and a fielder’s choice would score Makayla Bowman to extend the lead to five runs.
The Hillcats would load the bases once again and force the Pioneers to make another field choice which would score another run for Rogers State to make the score 6-0.
Day would then step up to the plate for the second time in the inning, this time with the bases loaded. She would single to right field to score Abigail Taylor and Stroud and advance Kimberli Presnell to third. Day would then get caught in a pickle will trying to steal second which would allow the opening for Presnell to score the eighth run of the inning.
The Pioneers would cut into the lead, but could not match the Hillcats as they scored just once in the fourth and two runs in the fifth.
How it Happened (Game 2): The Hillcats would once again strike first in the game. Watson would single through the right side of the infield to score Day from second and put Gibson on third. Bowman would then step up to the plate and single to left field to score Gibson.
The Hillcats would load up the bases and Waggnor would hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Watson and advance Bowman to third. Haley Womack would then hit a sacrifice fly to right center to score Bowman to give the Hillcats a 4-0 lead after the first inning.
In the second inning the Hillcats would score twice. A throwing error would put runners on the corner with Day at third and Watson on second. A groundout from Bowman would score Day to give the Navy and Red a five-run lead. Allie McFetridge would then double down the left line to score Watson to make the score 6-0.
The Hillcats would once again load up the bases in the third inning. Watson would eventually earn a full-count walked, after fouling off the ball seven times with two strikes. Stroud scored on the walk.
Bowman singled up the middle to score Rylee DeLozier and Presnell to give the Hillcats a nine-run lead.
In the next at bat, McFetridge hit a three-run home run to clear the bases and give the Hillcats a 12-0 lead.
One run would be all that Hillman would need, as she retired the Pioneers in order over five innings of work. Hillman never threw more than 12 pitches in an inning, as she finished with just 49 pitches for the game. She would also fan five Pioneer batters.
Other Key Performances: Day would go 3-for-6, with two doubles. She would also score three runs, have two RBIs and be walked twice.
Watson would hit a home run for the Hillcats in game one of the doubleheader. She also scored four runs and had six RBIs.
McFetridge would be perfect from the plate in the second game going 3-for-3 with a home run, double and bunt single. She would also have four RBIs and a run in that game.
Morales improved her record to a perfect 10-0 for the season in game one. Morales would record seven strikeouts.
Key Statistic: The Hillcats would not have a strikeout offensively at the plate in the second game of doubleheader against the Pioneers.
Notes: Hillman’s perfect game is the first in Rogers State softball program history. Prior to Hillman’s perfect game, Rogers State had four no hitters, with the most recent being thrown by Morales last season against Central Missouri.
Morales would reach 400 career strikeouts with her fourth strikeout in the first game.
The Hillcats win streak has now reached 10 games. The last team the Hillcats lost to was Southern Arkansas, who is ranked No. 7 in the nation.
Up Next: Rogers State is back in action this weekend as they play their fourth and final invitational/festival of the season. The Hillcats will play in the Edmond Regional Festival III from February 21-22, playing in five games hosted by Oklahoma Christian and Central Oklahoma.
