MCKINNEY, Texas - The Rogers State baseball team improved to 9-0 on the season with a trio of victories in McKinney, Texas over Tabor College (Kan.) and Dallas Christian College.
On Friday, the Hillcat registered a come-from-behind 10-9 victory over Tabor College thanks to a seven-run sixth inning. RSU followed the Tabor victory with a 15-6 win over Dallas Christian. RSU tallied their ninth straight win on Saturday morning as it dominated DC 12-2 in frigid weather conditions.
GAME ONE
After two scoreless frames, Tabor dented the scoreboard first with a three-run blast by Andrew Perez in the third inning.
The Hillcats answered in the fourth as Randy Ramirez put the Hillcats on the board thanks to a Tabor miscue. RSU tied the game 3-3 with a two-run homer by junior Keith Poverud in the fifth frame.
Matt Weger put the Blue Jays back on top with an RBI double in the top of the sixth. The Tabor lead was short-lived as the Hillcats took over in the bottom of the inning, plating seven runs. With bases loaded, Poverud belted a two run double. Eric Baker kept the Hillcats rolling as he followed with a two-run double of his own. Cody Campbell hit a single to bring Baker home. Lance Rymel rounded out the scoring with a sacrifice fly to deep centerfield, allowing Hector Rivera to score and giving RSU a 10-4 advantage.
The Blue Jay nearly got back in the game in the top of the seventh as they tallied five runs to trail 10-9. With two outs, Tyler Kozolowski hit an RBI single and Weger followed with a grand slam to cut the deficit to one run.
Mason Marquette came in to pitch and struck out Jeremiah Lauts to end the inning as the Hillcats escaped with the victory.
Shawn Spainhoward started the game and earned a no decision after tossing 5.1 innings and allowing three runs on two hits with four strikeouts. Tyler Garner tallied the win, tossing two thirds of an inning and allowed one run on one hit. Zack Williams tossed two thirds of an inning, fanning one while allowing five runs on three hits. Mason Marquette garnered the save as he threw the final third of an inning with one strikeout.
GAME TWO
Dallas Christian opened the game with three runs in the bottom of the first frame off four hits and one error. However, RSU answered with back-to-back five-run innings. Cade McKewon hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield and Rymel scored to put the Hillcat on the board. Poverud, McKenzie Matthews and Baker hit consecutive RBI singles to give the Cats a 4-3 lead. Baker scored on a Crusader error to make it 5-3.
Jim Miner faced the minimum in the bottom of the second and the Hillcat offense added five more runs in the third. With bases loaded, Cody Campbell scored on a pass ball by catcher Jonathan Perea. Rymel scored on a groundout by McKewon and Poverud hit a double to send Colton Campbell home. Rivera and Randy Ramirez added RBI singles to make it 10-3 contest.
The Crusader chipped away at the Hillcat lead with one run in both the third and fourth frames but the Hillcats delivered the knockout punch in the top of the fifth with five runs. Matthews led off the inning with a solo shot over the right field fence. Hamilton Hernandez and Rymel each tallied an RBI double and Alex Cochran hit a sacrifice fly to send Ramirez home. Jeff Fyfe rounded out the scoring with an RBI single to left, giving RSU a 15-5 lead.
DC managed to score one final run in the bottom of the sixth but Jeremy Penn faced the minimum in the seventh to seal the win.
Miner tallied the win for the Hillcats as he tossed three innings and allowed four runs on six hits.
GAME THREE
Dallas Christian scored one run in the top of the first but the Hillcats answered with four runs in the bottom half of the frame and never looked back, scoring in all but one inning.
Cody Campbell got the scoring started as he laced an RBI double in the bottom of the first. DC intentionally walked Rymel to load the bases for Colton Campbell who followed with a two RBI double. Poverud added a sacrifice bunt to send Rymel home and give RSU a 4-1 lead.
Rymel hit a RBI single to center and Cody Campbel scored on an error by the Crusaders in the second. Proverud ripped an RBI single in the third and Rymel hit a sacrifice fly to score Hernandez in the fourth.
The Crusaders scored on a single by Ruben Salinas in the top of the sixth however, the Hillcats added four runs in the bottom of the frame. Blake Heston and Cochran each hit a sacrifice fly to score runs and Fyfe hit a two-run double to left field to give the Cats a 12-2 win.
Senior Jacob Wenaas recorded the win on the mound for the Hillcats, tossing four innings and allowing one run on one hit while fanning five. Casey Cassity hurled two innings, striking out two batters and allowed one run on three hits. Kyle Deaton closed out the game, tossing the scoreless seventh.
Rogers State (9-0) returns to the diamond on Wednesday as the Hillcats travel to Oklahoma City to face Oklahoma Christian at 3 p.m.
