SHAWNEE, Okla. – NAIA No. 5-ranked Rogers State baseball split doubleheader action versus No. 10 Oklahoma Baptist University at Bison Field at Ford Park Wednesday evening.
The fifth ranked Hillcats dropped game one to the Bison, 4-1. In the nightcap it took extra innings but RSU tallied two runs in the eighth to capture the 3-1 victory and the doubleheader split.
GAME ONE
The Bison claimed the first game with four runs on nine hits as RSU totaled three errors on the way to the 4-1 loss.
A two-run, bottom of the third inning gave OBU the advantage early in game one. A double to deep right center field by Greg Nelson led to a RBI single through the hole at second by Mason Ankeney to give the Bison its first run of the day. A double by Matt Page put runners on the corners before a sacrifice fly by Jeff Johnson to right put OBU up 2-0.
In the bottom of the fourth a one out single to right by Mitch Warne followed by back-to-back singles by Rafael Villar and Yael Colon loaded the bases for OBU. A sac-fly by Nelson to right scored Warne from third and pushed the tally to 3-0 in favor of the home squad.
RSU made a push in the top of the sixth as Colton Campbell reached on a throwing error with two outs. He moved to second on a wild pitch and advanced to third on a Tyler Wheeler single but Campbell was out stretching home to end the inning as the Cats trailed 3-0.
T.J. Law replaced Shawn Spainhoward in the bottom half of the sixth and allowed a leadoff single. A bobble by the Hillcats, one of three errors in the game, led to two runners on without an out. A bunt single by Colon loaded the bases before a sacrifice fly to right scored Warne as the Hillcat deficit grew to four runs. Law forced a double play ground out to retire the side and push the game into the top of the seventh.
In the top of the seventh a leadoff walk by Cody Campbell followed by a wild pitch to move Alex Cochran, pinch running for Campbell, to second gave the Hillcats hope. A ground out by Emmanuel De La Cruz advanced Cochran to third and the Broken Arrow, Okla. native scored in the next at-bat on a sac-fly by Blake Heston trimming the deficit to 4-1.
Keith Poverud followed with a walk and moved to second on a wild pitch with Baker at the dish. OBU's Julian Merryweather walked the Hillcat centerfielder and the Bison went to the bullpen with Jesus Carlos. RSU's Hector Rivera reached on a fielder's choice as Eric Baker was forced out at second to end the game.
Merryweather (5-0) earned the victory for the Bison pitching six and two-third innings allowing one earned run on five hits as he fanned five. Jesus Carlos (2) received the save pitching one-third inning of relief.
Spainhoward (4-2) received the loss as the senior southpaw went five innings in the start allowing three runs, all earned, on seven hits. In one inning of relief Law gave up one earned run on two hits on 19 pitches.
RSU totaled just five hits in 23 at-bats in the first game. Sophomore Blake Heston went 1-for-2 in the designated hitter role with one RBI.
GAME TWO
OBU struck first in the second game of the doubleheader with a RBI single by Villar to score Johnson with two outs and two on base. The Hillcats forced a ground out to end the bottom of the second inning trailing 1-0.
In the fourth, Eric Baker singled to lead off the inning and moved to second on a stolen base. Two batters later a fly-out to left field moved the senior from Ft. Gibson, Okla. to third. Tyler Wheeler singled to center to score Baker and tie the contest at 1-1 in the top of the fourth inning.
A scoreless fifth, sixth and seventh innings for both squads pushed the game into extra innings.
In the eighth a leadoff, pinch hit single by Cody Campbell put Alex Cochran, pinch running, on first. Baker singled through the hole at second to put runners at first and second with no outs. Hector Rivera's sacrifice bunt moves the runners to scoring position. On a 2-2 count and after fouling off five consecutive pitches Colton Campbell singled to left to score Cochran and Baker putting RSU up for the first time in the game at 3-1.
In the bottom of the eighth RSU went to the bullpen, calling upon Jesse Baird to close the contest. After back-to-back fly outs the junior right hander issued back-to-back walks before striking out the side to claim the doubleheader split.
Kyle Duncan pitched six and one third inning in the start for the Hillcats as the senior gave up one earned run on four hits. He struck out two and walked four in 103 total pitches. Jesus Del Rosario (3-1) claimed the victory for the Cats as he pitched two-third innings of relief action. Earning the save for RSU was Jesse Baird (1) as he struck out two.
Richard Lucas (2-2) received the loss as the Bison starter went seven innings of action giving up five hits and two earned runs, walking one and fanning two. Jesus Carlos pitched an inning of relief for Oklahoma Baptist (23-8, 3-3) allowing one earned run on two hits as he recorded one strike out facing four batters.
Baker went 2-for-4 for the Hillcats at the plate while Colton Campbell went 1-for-4 with two RBI.
Rogers State (20-6, 5-1) will welcome the Bison to Claremore for a doubleheader affair on Saturday, March 23 at the Diamond Sports Complex. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. and RSU Radio 91.3FM will broadcast the doubleheader action and live streaming made available at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.
