TAHLEQUAH, Okla. - Rogers State scored early and often to top Northeastern State, 9-7 in non-conference action Tuesday afternoon at Rousey Field in Tahlequah, Okla.
 

Rob Rodriguez and Kevin Phillips combined for four hits and eight RBI to lead the Hillcats past the RiverHawks. Josh Walker earned his team-leading fifth win of the season with five innings of work.
 

Rodriguez laced a two-run single with two outs in the first inning to put the Cats in front 3-0. Blake Neighbors, who went 4-for-5 for the Hawks, chopped a two-run single through the left side of the infield to make it a one-run game in the bottom of the third.
 

Phillips picked up his first RBI of the day with a sacrifice fly to center field in the fourth. NSU opened the bottom of the fifth inning with back-to-back doubles and tied the game with a sacrifice fly by Brandon Espinal.
 

However, the Hillcats were far from finished. Phillips ripped a two-run single to left in the top of the sixth and Rodriguez plated two more runs with a single up the middle in the seventh. Phillips cranked his third home run of the season in the eighth to cap the RSU scoring.
 

The RiverHawks scored two runs in the eighth and one in the ninth to reach the final margin, 9-7. Adam Hibdon (3-3) suffered the loss for NSU after giving up three runs in two innings of work.
 

Walker (5-1) allowed four runs on five hits with five strikeouts and two walks. Curt Simpson picked up his second save of the season after allowing one run on two hits in the bottom of the ninth.
 

Rogers State (26-15) returns home to host Wayland Baptist in a three-game series this weekend. The Hillcats and Pioneers are scheduled to play a doubleheader Friday beginning at 5 p.m. and a single game Saturday at 1 p.m. The entire series will be carried live on RSU Radio 91.3 FM.