EDMOND, Okla. – Rogers State went undefeated in the 2022 MIAA Softball Championship and took home the tournament title for the first time since joining the Association in 2019.
Rogers State won its first MIAA softball championship with a 4-2 nine-inning victory over Washburn in the tournament finale on Sunday, May 8. The No. 3 seeded Hillcats and top-seeded Icahobds went run-for-run in a game that saw 14 hits, eight by Rogers State and six by Washburn.
The four-day, 14-game, double-elimination tournament was played at the University of Central Oklahoma’s Gerry Pinkston Stadium in Edmond, Okla.
Rogers State was the first to score as Kimberli Presnell hit a solo home run to left center, giving the Hillcats a 1-0 advantage in the bottom of the third. Washburn answered in the top of the fourth as Ashton Friend’s sacrifice fly to right field scored Jayce Ginter to tie the game at 1-1. Ginter, the 2022 MIAA Player of the Year, gave the Ichabods a 2-1 advantage in the top of the sixth hitting a single up the middle to score Marrit Mead from third. Rogers State’s Makayla Bowman retied the game with a solo shot over left field in the bottom of the seventh.
The championship game remained tied at 2-2 until the bottom of the ninth inning. With two outs and a runner on first, the Hillcats second baseman Chelsea Spain hit a game-winning, walk-off home run to left center, securing the 4-2 victory and the 2022 title.
The championship game feature the Association’s top-two pitchers. Washburn’s Ginter faced 37 batters allowing eight hits, four runs and two walks while striking out four Hillcats. Andrea Morales faced 35 batters in the circle for Rogers State. The 2022 MIAA Pitcher of the Year allowed six hits, two runs and three walks while collecting 11 strikeouts.
Morales was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player for her pitching in the championship.
With the victory, Rogers State earned the Association’s automatic qualifier to the 2022 NCAA Division II Central Region Championship. The Hillcats and other MIAA teams will learn their post season destinations during the NCAA Selection Show tomorrow at 9 a.m. Central Time. The selection show will be broadcasted live on
NCAA.com.
To see the final results and finalized bracket of the 2022 MIAA Softball Championship,
click here.
Below is the complete list of the 2022 MIAA All-Tournament Team.
2022 All-Tournament Team
Andrea Morales – Pitcher – Rogers State
(Most Outstanding Player)
Jaycee Ginter – Pitcher – Washburn
Madison Rosenthal – Pitcher – Nebraska Kearney
Emma Hoffart – Catcher – Missouri Western
Marrit Mead – Infield – Washburn
Nicole Price – Infield – Rogers State
Sydni Hawkins – Infield — Missouri Western
Jaden LaBarge – Infield – Washburn
Jacee Minter – Outfield – Central Oklahoma
Paige Robins – Outfield – Washburn
Makayla Bowman – Outfield – Rogers State
Chloe Armstrong – Designated Player – Missouri Western