SHAWNEE, Okla. - The third-seeded Rogers State baseball team couldn't complete a late comeback and fell to the sixth-seeded University of Science and Arts, 4-3, in the opening game of the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament at Ford Park on the Campus of Oklahoma Baptist University.
Zach Gonzalez put the Drovers on the scoreboard in the top of the first with a two-out RBI double to send Jared Coon home after singling earlier in the inning. The Hillcats matched the run in the bottom on the frame as Eric Baker led off with a double to right field and advanced to third on a fly ball by Hector Rivera. Baker scored on a sacrifice fly by senior Lance Rymel.
USAO regained the lead in the second as Brian Vigo led off the inning with a walk and reached third on a single to left by Owen Adams. He scored on a fielder's choice by Konrad Mueller. The Drovers faced the minimum in the bottom half of the inning and added to their advantage in the third with a RBI groundout by Gonzalez.
Cade McKewon belted a two-out RBI double down the left field line to drive in Cody Campbell and cut the deficit to 3-2.
The Drovers pushed their lead to 4-2 in the fifth as Mueller led off the inning with a double and reached third on a sacrifice bunt. Coon drove Mueller in with a single to right field.
Rymel led off the eighth with a double and courtesy runner Taylor Estes went on to score on a RBI single by Randy Ramirez. The Hillcats held the Drovers scoreless in the ninth and had one last chance to make a comeback in the bottom of the inning.
Baker tallied a one out single and advanced to second with a sacrifice bunt by Rivera. With two outs, Colton Campbell hit a fly ball in the gap in right-center field but center fielder Romus Cezar robbed him of the hit as he made a diving catch to preserve the 4-3 victory.
The Hillcats tallied 11 hits while stranding nine base runners in the contest. Rivera led the Cats at the plate as he went 3-for-4 on the afternoon. The everyday second baseman tallied all three of his hits with two outs.
Shawn Spainhoward (8-2) was tagged with the loss on the mound for the Hillcats as he tossed seven innings and gave up four runs, three earned, on nine hits with one walk while fanning one.
Seth Sturgeon tossed the complete game victory for the Drovers as he allowed three runs, two earned, on 11 hits with one walk and one strikeout.
Rogers State (41-13) returns to action in the SAC Tournament on Thursday as it faces St. Gregory's at Ford Park with first pitch set for 2 p.m. Live audio will be carried on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.
