The Drury softball Panthers earned a Tuesday non-conference split vs. Rogers State, taking the opener 5-4, before falling 3-1 in the nightcap at Thompson Field.  Drury moves to 19-28 and Rogers State is now 27-19.

In the opener, the Hillcats scored the first run of the contest on an RBI sacrifice fly to right in the fourth.  Drury countered with two runs in the bottom of the fourth, with those coming on an RBI single by Abbey LeJong to score Marissa Ross, and a Rogers State error that allowed Rachael Michaelis to cross. 

Harli Wheeler, the Hillcats leadoff hitter, belted a two RBI single to center in the fifth to put Rogers back on top.   The Hillcats capped off a three-run fifth inning with an RBI sacrifice fly for a 4-2 lead. 

With one out and the bases loaded in the seventh, Kelley Conway hammered one to right center to bring home pinch runner Karlie Peck and Kaelie Smith to tie it up.  Ross followed Conway with a game winning RBI single to right that scored Taylor Ellestad for the win.

Michaelis led the Panther offense, going 2 for 3, and scoring a run for the Panthers, who finished with 10 hits.  Kenzie Lloyd had 2 of Rogers State's 3 hits and scored a run.

There were a combined five errors in the opener, three of those by the Panthers.   Drury left seven runners on base to the Hillcats four.

Jessica Kjeldgaard (10-15) powered through the Hillcats lineup early, striking out six of the first 10 batters, and finishing with seven strikeouts.  Megan Rosewell (21-16) got the loss, going 6.1 innings, and recording a strikeout.   

In the nightcap, Rogers State stole four bases, and scored a run on a sacrifice fly to open the first inning.  A bases loaded RBI walk by Hannah Hearst scored Conway to tie it up in the second.  Drury loaded the bases again in the third, but were unable to bring a runner home. 

Morgen Blanchard hit a solo shot, her ninth of the season, in the fifth, to put Rogers State on top.  Blanchard added an RBI single in the seventh for a 3-1 victory for the Hillcats.

DU had runners on first and second with one out in the seventh, but Rosewell (22-16) was able to get the Panthers to line out, and pop up to claim the win.  Destiny Bolen (9-12) received the loss, going seven innings, and posting seven strikeouts.

Ross went 2 for 2 for Drury, who finished with six hits.  Blanchard went 2 for 4, and had two RBIs with a run for Rogers State.   

The Panthers return to action on Saturday (April 22) and Sunday (April 23) for a pair of Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheaders.  The Panthers host Illinois-Springfield on Saturday and McKendree on Sunday, both noon starts.