CLAREMORE, Okla. – The Rogers State baseball team suffered its first losses of the season on Friday afternoon as Baker (Kan.) tallied a doubleheader sweep at the Diamond Sports Complex.
 
The Hillcats couldn't capitalize on opportunities leaving 17 runners stranded in the doubleheader. The Wildcats rallied for the 2-1 win in the opener and fended off a late comeback bid from the Hillcats in the nightcap, registering a 12-8 win.  
 
GAME ONE
RSU dented the scoreboard first with a RBI double down the left field line by Zack Ashford in the second frame, bringing Blake Gipson around to score after leading off the inning with a single.
 
The Wildcats scored both of their runs in the sixth inning tallying the come-from-behind victory. Baker opened the inning with consecutive singles and both runners moved into scoring position with a sac bunt from Cort Brennan. Tevin Thompson drove both runs in with a RBI single ripped down the left field line.
 
Michael Fusselman (1-1) suffered the loss for RSU allowing two runs on six hits with four strikeouts in 5.1 innings of work. Seth Jones (1-1) earned his first win of the season on the mound, tossing five innings, allowing one run on five hits.
 
GAME TWO
In the nightcap, the Hillcats jumped out to an early lead but couldn't hang on as a big third inning led to the doubleheader sweep for the Wildcats.
RSU started strong in the second half of the twin bill, putting together five hits to score three runs and take an early lead. Cesar Rodriguez started the scoring with a RBI double to left field. Andrew Vanisi followed with a sacrifice fly and Blake Gipson capped the scoring with a RBI single up the middle.
 
Baker cut the deficit in the top of the second with a pair of runs and took the driver's seat in the third with eight runs on seven hits with the help of one RSU error. The Wildcats tacked on a pair of runs in the fifth to push their advantage to 12-3.
 
The Hillcats chipped away at the deficit in the sixth with an Alex Cochran RBI single up the middle and Andrew Vanisi followed with a one-out single through the left side that scored two runs.
 
RSU looked to rally in the bottom of the ninth as Garrett Hall ripped a double off the wall in left to put runners on second and third. Dustin Exford scored on a wild pitch and pinch runner James Marks scored on an Austin Culwell groundout. With two outs, Chase Knott belted a ball to the left field fence but Austin Bass ended the game stretching over the fence to snag the home run away and end the RSU comeback bid.
 
Justin Bye (1-1) earned the win for the Wildcats, tossing five innings, allowing three runs on eight hits with three strikeouts. Caleb Banks (1-1) suffered the loss, lasting 2.1 innings, allowing nine runs, seven earned, on 10 hits while fanning five.
 
Rogers State (3-2) returns to the diamond Saturday to complete the series with Baker. The doubleheader is slated for a 1 p.m. first pitch. Live audio will be available on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.