CLAREMORE, Okla. - The Rogers State baseball team opened the 2012 slate with a doubleheader sweep over Arlington Baptist on Friday afternoon at QuickTrip Park in Grand Prairie, Texas.
The Diamond Cats tallied three runs in the first inning en route to a 9-2 victory in the first game of the season. RSU earned a 6-1 win in the nightcap, posting runs in all but two innings.
GAME ONE
The Hillcats plated five runs in the first two innings to spark the offense while the defense produced five scoreless innings in the first game of the day. Hector Rivera drove in the first run of the game with a double to deep left centerfield. Rivera scored on a ground out by Cody Campbell. A single by Lance Rymel sent Randy Ramirez home to give the Cats a 3-0 advantage.
The Patriots got one run back in the bottom half of the first frame but the Hillcats added two runs in the second inning with a two RBI double by Ramirez.
Arlington Baptist answered in the bottom of the third with a run but it was all Hillcats from there.
RSU loaded the bases in the fourth and scored a pair of runs on an RBI by Rivera and Ramirez
In the top of the seventh, Cade McKewon doubled and Taylor Estes scored. Emmanuel De La Cruz capped off the scoring, reaching home on a wild throw by centerfielder Zachary Thompson.
Four pitchers saw time on the mound for the Hillcats. Brandon Bargas tallied his first career start for the Hillcats, tossing two innings while fanning three batters and allowing one earned run. Redshirt Freshman T.J. Law followed with two innings of work with three strikeouts while allowing one run. Senior Drew Taylor pitched two scoreless innings and Jeremy Penn closed out the game with a scoreless seventh inning and two strikeouts.
GAME TWO
Colton Campbell put the Diamond Cats on the board in the top of the first with a single to left field, plating Rivera who led off the inning with a walk. The Patriots matched the RSU's run in the bottom of the inning but it was the only run they would produce in the contest.
The Hillcats regained the lead in the second inning. McKewon reached on an error, stole second and Colton Campbell drove him in with a two out single.
After a scoreless third, RSU loaded the bases in the top of the fourth and came away with one run off a sacrifice fly by Eric Baker.
Cody Campbell belted an off the wall double in the fifth and Alex Cochran entered as the pinch runner. Cochran stole third and home to give the Hillcats a 4-1 lead.
A couple of miscues by the Patriots aided RSU in recording its final two runs as Estes scored on a balk and Rivera scored on a wild pitch.
Kyle Duncan started for the Hillcats and tossed three innings while allowing one unearned run with one strikeout. Tyler Garner returned to the mound after enduring Tommy John surgery in the offseason. The senior hurler tossed two scoreless innings, facing six batters, fanning one. Zach Williams worked the scoreless sixth and Casey Cassity closed out the contest in the seventh, allowing no runs and striking out one batter.
Rogers State (2-0) will round out its four-game series with Arlington Baptist on Saturday with a twin bill slated for 1 p.m.
