CLAREMORE, Okla. - A six run fifth inning proved to be enough for Rogers State baseball to come away with its 14th straight victory this one over Mid-America Christian, 9-1, Thursday evening at the Hillcat Complex.
Cade McKewon doubled to left field and scored on a single to right by senior Colton West to get the scoring started in the bottom of the fifth. MACU pitcher Sean Sanders walked Randy Ramirez and Cody Campbell in the next two at-bats. That's when Keith Poverud came to the plate and hit a three-run home run to left field on the second pitch by Sanders. Poverud went 2-4 with three RBI on the evening.
Sanders was pulled bring in Derek Allen to try and pull in the reins on the Hillcats but the reliever for MACU was unsuccessful as he allowed Colton Cambell to single up the middle. Catcher Joe Manbodh doubled to left-centerfield to score Campbell from first. Estes entered as a courtesy runner for Manbodh and scored when Jairo Valdez doubled to right field. When all was said and done in the bottom half of the fifth the Cats had scored six runs on six hits.
RSU gave up the early lead on a solo shot by the Evangels short stop Luis Martinez off of starter Casey Cassity. The sophomore, south-paw recovered nicely, as the shot by Martinez was the only run to blemish Cassity's final line; six innings pitched, five hits, one strikeout and no walks as the Barnsdall, Okla. native earned his fourth win of the season.
Ramirez scored in the second to tie the contest at 1-1 when Colton Campbell reached on a fielder's choice. RSU took the lead in the bottom of the third on a single by West scoring Barnes from third. West stole second to move into scoring position and reached home on a single by Ramirez to right field to give the Hillcats a 3-1 lead after three.
Mario Mena entered in the ninth and gave up a single to Jeff Eubank to open the inning. Mena walked the next two batters before striking out three consecutive to shut the door on the Evangels.
Sean Sanders (0-1) recorded the loss for the Evangels giving up seven runs on seven hits and walking four in four and two-third innings. MACU (1-12, 0-4) had seven hits in the loss.
Rogers State (15-1, 2-0) will close out the series with the Evangels on the road Saturday in Oklahoma City with a double-header starting at 1 p.m.
