CLAREMORE, Okla. - On the same day the Rogers State baseball team entered the NAIA Top-25 for the first time in program history, the Hillcats claimed another victim with a doubleheader sweep over College of the Ozarks at the Hillcat Complex on Tuesday evening.
The Hillcats used four runs in the fifth inning to secure the 9-5 win over the Bobcats. After falling behind 4-0 in the first inning during the night cap, RSU rallied to score runs in each of the next five innings and allowed just one run in the top of the seventh to claim a 10-5 victory.
GAME ONE
The Cats opened game one by loading the bases. Cody Campbell drove in a pair of runs with a double to deep centerfield. Kevin Radford followed with a single to bring Randy Ramirez home and the Cats claimed a 3-0 advantage.
The Bobcats cut the Hillcats lead to one run in the top of the second. However, RSU quickly pushed its lead to 5-2 in the bottom of the inning with a pair of runs off a wild pitch that scored Taylor Estes and a sacrifice fly by Cade McKewon sent Jairo Valdes home.
C of O knotted the score in the top of the fifth with a trio of runs on three hits. RSU responded in the bottom half of the inning. Ramirez led off with a double and Campbell followed with a first-pitch two-run home run over the wall in centerfield to give the Cats the lead. Back-to-back hits by Keith Poverud and Joe Manbodh along with a walk by Valdez loaded the bases. Brandt Barnes reached first on a fielder's choice as Poverud crossed home plate. Manbodh also scored on the play thanks to an error by pitcher Willy Hoey to give the Cats a 9-5 advantage.
Eric Faust retired the side in the sixth as he ended the inning with a strikeout and Zach Williams closed out the game as he tossed a scoreless seventh inning. Senior Jordan Clark (3-0) earned the win on the mound for the Hillcats. The senior hurler tossed five innings while allowing five runs, two earned, with four strikeouts.
GAME TWO
The Bobcats jumped out to an early lead as they posted four runs in the first inning of the night cap. The Cats began to chip away at the deficit in the second inning as Billy Balak scored on a sacrifice fly by Brandt Barnes to put the Cats on the board.
RSU tied the score in the third. Ramirez and Lance Rymel hit consecutive singles to start the inning. Colton Campbell followed with a double to send Ramirez home. Balak belted a double to right-center field and sent both base runners home to make it a 4-4 contest.
Campbell struck again in the fourth as he drove in a pair of runs to give the Cats their first lead of the game. The sophomore from St. Cloud, Fla. continued to wreak havoc on the Bobcats in the fifth as he hit a three-RBI double and pushed RSU's lead to 9-4.
Frensly Martina plated the final run of the game for the Cats in the six as he led off the inning with a single and scored on single to centerfield by Barnes.
The Bobcats managed one run in the top of the seventh but it wasn't enough as they fell, 10-5.
Freddy Soto registered his second win of the season on the mound as he pitched one scoreless inning and allowed one hit.
Colton Campbell drove in six runs in the finale as he went 3-for-4 with one run scored. Balak and Barnes had two RBI apiece.
Rogers State (28-5, 10-3) will return to Sooner Athletic Conference play at Hillcat Complex on Thursday against the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. The games will be broadcast live on RSU Radio 91.3 FM and on www.rsuhillcats.com.
