CLAREMORE, Okla. - Rogers State closed out a busy weekend with a doubleheader split against Baker University (Baldwin City, Kan.) Sunday afternoon at the Hillcat complex.
 

The Hillcats finished the five-game homestand at 3-2 after taking two of three games from Northwestern Oklahoma State to start the weekend. Baker banged out 14 hits in the opener Sunday to post a 9-3 victory. RSU answered with 14 hits in the nightcap for a 14-5 win.

GAME ONE
 

The afternoon got off to a rocky start for the Hillcat pitching staff as the Baker lineup racked up five runs on eight hits over the first three innings.
 

Sophomore starter Joe Hardzog lasted just 2.2 innings and reliever Arten White didn't fare much better. Hardzog gave up five runs on seven hits before being replaced by White in the middle of the third inning. Pinch hitter Jared Herbert greeted White with a two-run single to right field to put the Wildcats in front, 5-2.
 

Zach Hamby ripped an RBI double to left in the bottom of the third but the Hillcats wouldn't score again in the contest. Vidal Nuno pitched a complete game for the Wildcats, scattering eight hits across seven innings with six strikeouts and two walks. Baker tacked on single runs in the fifth and sixth frames and added two more in the seventh.
 

Hamby, Brandon Denton and Joe Manbodh had two hits apiece for RSU. Andrew Hannon and Chad Griffin both enjoyed three-hit performances for the Wildcats. Hardzog (0-1) was tagged with the loss for RSU.

GAME TWO
 

Coach Ron Bradley retooled his lineup by starting a number of role players in the nightcap and the move paid off.
 

Freshman second baseman Kevin Phillips and junior outfielder Tyler Harold combined for five hits and five RBI to lead the Hillcats to a 14-5 win. The duo had just one start between them before Sunday.
 

Hamby gave RSU the early lead with a two-run homer over the centerfield wall in the bottom of the first inning. However, the Cats were bitten by the big inning once again as Baker scored five runs in the top of the second. Three hits, two walks and an error led to a 5-2 advantage for the Wildcats.
 

Brandon Denton opened the third inning with a double to left and Coby Wright and Mandbodh followed with singles up the middle. Hamby and Hank Gray worked consecutive walks to force home a run and Phillips put the Hillcats in front with a two-out double down the left field line.
 

RSU opened up a six run lead with five more tallies in the bottom of the fifth. Phillips plated the first run of the inning with an RBI single and Harold followed with a three-run double to left that emptied the bases. Brandon Denton chipped in with a single up the middle to score Harold and put the Cats on top, 11-5. Joe Faircloth ripped an RBI double as part of a three-run sixth to reach the final margin, 14-5.
 

Junior DJ Thompson (1-0) recorded the complete-game victory for RSU in his first start of the season. He shut the Wildcats down after the five-run second inning. Thompson yielded just five hits over seven innings with four strikeouts. Harold went 3-for-4 while Wright, Manbodh and Phillips tallied two hits apiece.
 

Rogers State (10-6) will take three days off before welcoming No. 1 Oklahoma City University to town on Thursday. The Cats and Stars will play a nine-inning game at the Hillcat Complex with first pitch slated for 2 p.m.