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CHICKASHA, Okla.- The No. 13-ranked Rogers State baseball team dropped a 6-3 decision at the University of Science and Arts on Saturday afternoon at Bill Smith Park.
 

The Drovers took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first frame and never trailed the rest of the way. Despite knotting the score 2-2 in the third, the Hillcats were unable to take the lead in the contest.

Jared Coon ignited the USAO offense in the bottom of the first with a one-out single down the right field line. He moved to second on a stolen base and Heath Wilda followed, reaching first after being hit by a pitch. Zach Gonzalez drove both base runners in with a double in the left-center field gap.

The Hillcats evened the score 2-2 in the third inning. Ramcey Lora and Eric Baker each drew a walk to put runners on first and second. Both base runners reached home thanks to consecutive two-out singles by Hector Rivera and Jose Olazagasti.

USAO regained the lead in the fourth as Gonzales reached base after being hit by a pitch, advanced to third on a two-out error and scored on a wild pitch. The Drovers tacked on three more insurance runs in the fifth to push the RSU deficit to 6-2.

In the top of the seventh, the Hillcats managed to cut the deficit with a RBI single by Keith Poverud but RSU left a pair of runs stranded to end the contest.

Brandon Bargas (6-3) was tagged with the loss as he allowed six runs, five earned on eight hits with five strikeouts in five innings of work. Kyle Deaton tossed the sixth and allowed just one hit.  

Despite giving up a solo home run in the bottom of the first, the Hillcats answered with six runs in the third to take the lead in the nightcap. However, the second game of the doubleheader was called in the third inning after an altercation on the field. Whether the game will be suspended, replayed or canceled is still yet to be determined.

Rogers State (25-10,10-5) returns to action on Tuesday as the Hillcats travel to the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith for a nine-inning contest at 5 p.m.

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