CLAREMORE, Okla. – The Rogers State baseball team dropped a non-conference tilt to Northeastern State, 6-3, on Wednesday afternoon at the Diamond Sports Complex.
 
The Hillcats fell behind early and their comeback bid fell short, leaving six runners stranded in the contest.
  
The RiverHawks took control of the game from the start, plating runs the first two frames. Caleb Hill got the scoring started with what should have been a RBI groundout but a throwing error by the Hillcat defense put him on first base. With two outs and the bases loaded, Shane Bridges was hit by a pitch to bring in a run and NSU took a 2-0 lead.  
 
NSU struck again in the second as a two-out error put runners on the corners. Cody Begovich followed with a walk to load the bases while Preston Cash and Eric Kirkpatrick tallied consecutive singles to drive in three runs.
 
The Hillcats dented the scoreboard and cut the five-run deficit in the bottom of the fourth with a two-out, two-run home run belted over the scoreboard in left field by Trae BoBo. It was the sophomore's team-leading fourth home run of the season and third at the Diamond Sports Complex this season.
 
In the sixth, NSU posted a run with a RBI double by Kirkpatrick but the Hillcats battled back in the bottom of the frame with a run of their own on a Chase Knott RBI single.
 
BoBo led the Hillcats with two hits and two RBI in the game.
 
Caleb Banks (1-2) suffered the loss on the mound for RSU, lasting 1.2 innings allowing five runs, one earned, on four hits. Dustin Berrong (1-1) tossed two innings of relief and earned the win for NSU while Jake Kern (6) tallied the save.
Rogers State (7-9 overall) will take the road on Friday as the Hillcats start a three-game series at Oklahoma Christian. The doubleheader is slated for 2 p.m. with the finale scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m.