CLAREMORE, Okla. - After a long hiatus due to weather the St. Edward's softball team finally returned to the field, opening Heartland Conference play against Rogers State Sunday. 

GAME 1: SEU 1 - RSU 7

The rust showed early as SEU gave up four runs in the first inning and one each in the third, fourth and sixth to trail 7-0 heading into the seventh. The Hilltoppers made a run at a comeback in the final inning. CALLI BIRCH singled through the right side with one out and SHELBY JANDA reached on an error by centerfield, advancing Birch to third with two outs. KAROLINA RODRIGUEZ's single through the left side scored the only Hilltopper run of the game before the Hillcats secured the final out. 

KAYLA APPLEBY, Birch, Rodriguez and TY'ERYKA PRESTON all secured hits in the loss. MIKAYLA PARKER suffered her first loss of the season in the circle, allowing four runs on four hits with one strikeout. 

GAME 2: SEU 0 - RSU 3

Rogers State again jumped on the board early which proved to be the difference. The Hillcats posted three runs in the first and held the Hilltoppers scoreless despite SEU out hitting RSU 5-2 in the game. St. Edward's stranded eight baserunners in the contest. 

MORGAN LEWIS led at the plate, going 2-3 in the game with one walk while Appleby, Preston, and KYLIE MICA all recorded hits. REAGAN CARTER suffered the loss despite a strong showing in the circle, allowing three runs on two hits with six strikeouts. 

The Hilltoppers fall to 2-6 on the season and start out 0-2 in Heartland Conference play. They return to action to face #5 Texas A&M-Commerce on Wednesday, February 27 for a double-header beginning at 3 pm.