CLAREMORE, Okla. - The Rogers State baseball team defeated No. 5 Lubbock Christian, 12-3, on Saturday afternoon at Hays Field and earned the series win over the Chaps for the first time in program history.
The Cats knocked off the Chaps with a season-high 18 hits coupled with sound pitching performances from Grant Cosby and Matt Sample.
RSU struck first in the top of the third. Senior Lance Rymel sparked the offense with a leadoff double down the left field line. Jairo Valdez followed with a single that put runners on first and third. Brandt Barnes grounded out and earned an RBI as Taylor Estes scored while pinch running for Rymel. Cade McKewon ripped a double down the left field line and sent Valdez across home plate. Colton West singled through the right slide to send McKeown home and give the Cats a 3-0 advantage heading into the bottom of the inning.
LCU responded in the bottom half of the third inning with a pair of runs. However, the Cats extended their lead in the seventh with four runs on five hits while gaining some help from three LCU errors. All five of the Hillcats hits in the inning were singles. Barnes singled which allowed Valdez and Estes to score and he advanced to third on an error by the right fielder. McKewon singled to score Valdez. McKewon plated the final run of the inning as he scored on a missed catch by the right fielder and increased the Cats lead to 7-2.
The Chaps managed to score one run in the bottom of the seventh but the Cats gave themselves plenty of breathing room in the closing innings. Valdez belted a two-RBI double off the wall in center field to score Estes and Frensly Martina. A single by McKewon scored Valdez and the Cats pushed their lead to 10-3. RSU sealed the win with a two-run homer by Cody Campbell over the right field fence in the top of the ninth.
Cosby (4-0) registered the win on the mound. The senior right-hander tossed six innings while allowing six hits and two runs with five strikeouts. Junior Matt Sample recorded his third save of the season as he pitched three hitless innings and allowed one unearned run with three strikeouts.
Prior to this weekend's series win, RSU had only defeated the Chaps once. The Hillcats handed LCU an 18-8 loss in Lubbock on April 12, 2009. Once again, Cosby earned the win while becoming the first Hillcat pitcher to record a complete-game victory in a nine-inning contest.
McKewon led the offensive attack as he went 4-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored. Rymel also had a good day at the plate as he went 3-for-4.
Cameron Ray (2-1) was tagged with the loss for Lubbock Christian after giving up three runs on seven hits in three innings of work.
Rogers State (21-2, 6-1) will venture to Tahlequah, Okla. on Tuesday as they face Northeastern State in a single nine-inning game at 1 p.m.
