Diamond Cats Crush Oklahoma Christian, 24-8

Tyler Harold belted three home-runs in the Hillcats' big win over Oklahoma Christian Thursday (photo by gssphotography.com).

Rogers State saved the best for last and punched its ticket to the Sooner Athletic Conference tournament with a 24-8 drubbing of Oklahoma Christian Thursday in Edmond, Okla.
 

The Diamond Cats obliterated school records for runs and home runs in the regular season finale. RSU entered the game knowing it needed a victory to secure its second trip to the postseason in three years. The Hillcats surged out to a 12-2 lead over the first three innings and cruised to run-rule decision by clubbing 10 home runs.
 

Colton West ignited the home run derby with a three-run blast to right field in the top of the first inning. Tyler Harold added a two-run bomb in the second and went deep a second time in the third. Zach Hamby also belted his team-leading ninth long ball in the third as the Cats extended the margin to double digits.
 

The Eagles put up a brief fight with six runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Jay White swatted a three-run homer and Jordan Price ripped a three-run double to cut the lead to 12-8. However, the Cats came storming back with seven more runs in the top of the sixth to put the game away.
 

Billy Balak, Rob Rodriguez and Jairo Valdez cranked back-to-back-to-back homers to start the fifth. It marked the first time in school history the Cats’ clubbed three straight home runs. Luis Caraballo added a fourth home run in the frame with a laser over the left-centerfield wall. Balak tacked on two-more RBI in the inning with a two-run single up the middle to make it 19-8.
 

Harold became just the second RSU player to tally three big flies in a single game with a solo shot in the top of the sixth. Two walks and an error loaded the bases before West unloaded with his second dinger of the night, a grand slam over the boards in right. The bases-clearing blast was the final blow delivered by the Cats in a record breaking performance.

Harold and West combined for five home runs and 11 RBI in the contest. RSU doubled the previous school record for homers in a game with 10 and surpassed the record for runs in a game by three with 24.

Jordan Clark (3-3) earned the pitching victory with 3.1 innings of scoreless relief. He allowed just one hit while striking out five. Starter Casey Cassity was tagged for eight runs on nine hits over the first 3.1 innings. Dustin Andrews (4-4) took the loss for OC after giving seven runs in two-plus innings of work.

Rogers State (30-19, 15-15) clinched its second 30-win season and completed a three-game sweep of Oklahoma Christian (19-26, 11-19). The Hillcats will likely enter next week’s SAC tournament as the six seed and will face the top seed in the first game Monday at 10 a.m. The game will be carried live on RSU Radio 91.3 FM and online at www.rsuhillcats.com.

Parings and game times will be released Sunday by the conference office. For more information on the Sooner Athletic Conference baseball tournament visit www.soonerathletic.org.