CLAREMORE, Okla. - The Rogers State pitching staff overwhelmed Kansas Wesleyan (Salina, Kan.) for a second consecutive day as the Diamond Cats picked up two more victories Sunday to complete a four-game sweep at the Hillcat Complex.
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An unearned run in the first inning was the only blemish of the weekend for the RSU defense. Sam Cornell and Josh Phillipi combined for a two-hitter and the Hillcats run-ruled KWU, 11-1 in the opener. Grant Cosby worked five spotless innings to start the nightcap and Randy Jones and DJ Thompson pitched in with a pair of scoreless frames to closeout a 5-0 victory.
GAME ONE
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RSU enjoyed its best offensive output of the spring with 11 runs on 11 hits in the first game Sunday.
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Preseason All-American Blake Kelley delivered the big blows with two home runs and five RBI. Kelley ripped a three-run homer to dead center field in the second inning to put the Cats in front, 5-1. He added a two-run shot in the fifth to put the game away. Coby Wright continued to swing a hot bat with two hits and two RBI in the game. Hank Gray chipped in with two hits as well. Kevin Phillips worked a bases loaded walk in the sixth to bring home the final tally and enforce the run rule at 11-1.
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Cornell settled in with a comfortable lead after yielding two walks and an unearned run in the first inning. The sophomore southpaw scattered two hits across four innings and tallied five strikeouts to record his first win of the season. Phillipi impressed in his second consecutive outing. The freshman retired all six batters he faced with four strikeouts.
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KWU starter Nick Allaire suffered the loss after allowing five earned runs in just two innings on the hill.
GAME TWO
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Cosby made quick work of the Coyotes in the nightcap to ensure the Hillcats would complete the series sweep.
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The junior needed only 51 pitches to get through five innings. He fanned five batters and allowed just two hits without yielding a walk. Kelley and Zach Hamby belted back-to-back doubles in the bottom of the first inning to give RSU an early 1-0 lead.
The Hillcats blew the game open with a four-run fourth. Joe Faircloth roped a two-run single to right and Joe Manbodh followed with a mammoth home run to left center.
Jones and Thompson faced the minimum over the final two innings to put an exclamation point on an outstanding weekend for the RSU pitching staff. The Hillcat hurlers combined for only one unearned run during the four-game set and racked up 27 strikeouts compared with only five walks.
Rogers State (7-1) ran its winning streak to seven games with the Sunday sweep and will take three days off before opening Sooner Athletic Conference play. The Hillcats will welcome USAO to the Hillcat Complex Thursday afternoon for a single nine-inning game. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.
