CLAREMORE, Okla. – The No. 18-ranked Rogers State baseball team closed out its home slate with the biggest win of the season in front of over 500 fans at Hillcat Complex on Thursday evening.
The Diamond Cats knocked off No. 2 Oklahoma City 6-3 and extended their winning streak to 11 games. The victory marks the first time in program history the Hillcats have handed the Stars a loss.
Senior Grant Cosby retired the side in the top of the first to start the game. The RSU offense backed Cosby up in the bottom half of the inning as they added a trio of runs. Senior Brandt Barnes led off the inning and reached base after being hit by a pitch. He advanced to second with a sacrifice bunt by Cade McKewon. Senior Colton West followed with a single down the right field line that allowed Barnes to reach home. West stole second base and Ramiez walked to put runners on first and second. An infield single by Colton Campbell loaded the bases with two out. Junior Lance Rymel belted a double deep down the right field line as West and Ramirez scored.
The Stars used a pair of doubles in the fourth to get on the scoreboard. Kirk Walker led off the inning with a double and Matt Presley added a two-out double to right-center field which allow Walker to score.
RSU answered with a three-run home run by Barnes in the bottom half of the inning. With runners on second and third, Barnes hit what he thought was a two RBI double down the right field line but it was called foul. With two outs and two strikes Barnes left no doubt as he blasted the following pitch over the right field fence.
The Stars tried to fight their way back into the contest in the fifth as they were able to load the bases. Julien Pollard hit an infield single that died on the third base line chalk and allowed a run to score. Cosby retired the next hitter to get out of the inning and OCU left three runners stranded.
Pollard led off the eighth with a single and Miguel Beltan followed with a RBI double to make it a 6-3 game. Cosby struck out the next two hitters and played stellar defense to get the third out of the inning. Chad Carman hit a laser back to the pitching mound but Cosby gloved the ball and threw it to first for the final out.
The Star used three big defensive plays in the bottom half of the inning to keep the Hillcats from adding to the deficit. Cody Campbell led off the inning and belted the ball to right field however; Matt Presley made a catch against the wall to keep the bases empty. Lance Rymel crushed the ball to right-center field but TJ Jackson made a diving catch at the wall to give the Stars a second out. Junior Taylor Estes popped up in front of home plate while bunting and OCU catcher Chad Carman made a diving catch to end the inning.
The Stars were held off in the in the top of the ninth by Cosby. The right handed hurler got two quick out before allowing a double to centerfield. The senior retired the next hitter with a pop up to West at first base and ended the game.
In his final outing at Hillcat Complex, fifth-year senior Grant Cosby (7-1) garnered the complete-game win for the Hillcats. The Fayetteville, Ark. native allowed three runs on 12 hits with nine strikeouts. With his strikeout in the fifth inning, he surpassed the 200 career strikeouts mark. Through out his career he has recorded wins against every conference opponent.
The Hillcats handed senior Corey Theriot (10-0) his first loss of the season. The right handed hurler tossed the complete game while allowing six runs on six hits with six strikeouts.
Rymel and West registered two hits apiece for RSU. The duo combined for three RBI while Barnes collected the remaining RBI with his homer.
Rogers State (42-10, 20-8) will end the regular season at OCU with a twin bill on Saturday afternoon. First pitch for the rubber match is set for 2 p.m. For more information on Hillcat Baseball visit www.rsuhillcats.com.
