CLAREMORE, Okla. - The Hillcat baseball players had to wait a few extra days before joining their classmates on Spring Break as Rogers State closed out the week with a doubleheader split with Graceland University (Lamoni, Iowa) on Tuesday at the Hillcat Complex.
The loss in Game 1 of the doubleheader was just the second time in the last 18 games the Hillcats came up short on the scoreboard. RSU fell, 3-2 in Game 1 despite a strong pitching performance from Brett Trzcinski. Trzcinski (1-2) pitched seven innings and allowed just two hits while striking out eight. However, the Hillcats managed just three hits off Graceland pitching. An RBI triple by Ryan Littlejohn and a sacrifice bunt by Eric Bunch plated the only two runs of the game for RSU in the third inning.
The Hillcats responded by putting six runs on the board in the bottom of the first inning of Game 2. John Vaughn followed an RBI single by Greg Speed with a two RBI single of his own to give RSU the 6-0 advantage. Freshman Creston Moon (2-3) was perfect through the first four innings and pitched a complete game to earn the victory.
Todd Koscheski clubbed his third home run of the season in the bottom of the sixth to reach the final margin, 10-3. Koscheski went 2-for-3 in the game with a season-high five RBI.
RSU swept a doubleheader over Dordt College (Dordt, Iowa) on Monday at the Hillcat Complex. Brothers Blake and Brett Hollingsworth combined for nine hits on the day as the Hillcats cruised through afternoon. RSU won Game 1, 9-2 and run ruled the Defenders in Game 2 by a score of 12-2. Greg Speed chipped in with five hits on the day as Bryan Hollenbeck and Dusty Carriger picked up the wins.
Rogers State won both games of a doubleheader against Hastings College (Hastings, Neb.) on Saturday at the Hillcat Complex. RSU won both games by a score of 3-1 as Brent Hill and Tyler Whitaker earned the victories.
The Hillcats improved to 22-13 by winning 5-of-6 in the four-day stretch. Coach Ron Bradley's club will enjoy a week off before returning to action vs. Southern Nazarene at home on Mar. 27. First pitch of the doubleheader is slated for 1 p.m.
