FORT SMITH, Ark. – The Rogers State baseball team took a late lead in game two at UA Fort Smith but could not hold the lead falling twice, 7-0 and 3-2, Friday at Crowder Field in Heartland Conference play.
 
GAME ONE
UA Fort Smith scored one in the first and broke the game open with a six-run sixth inning to take control of the afternoon twin bill.
 
Bryce Neal led the game with a single for the Lions and scored on Josh Vanderpool's sacrifice fly for what turned out to be the winning run.
 
The Hillcats recorded hits in four-straight innings but could not dent the scoreboard despite loading the bases in the top of the fifth. Chase Knott and Blake Heston sandwiched walks around a two-out single from Garrett Hall in the frame.
 
The Lions chased RSU starter Mason Marquette in the sixth scoring the first of six runs in the inning on Vanderpool's RBI single. Brennan Rogers added a three-run triple clearing the bases before UAFS tallied two more in the frame for the 7-0 decision in game one.
 
Marquette (3-4) suffered the loss allowing six runs, five unearned, on six hits over 5.1 innings of work striking out four. Devin Hampton (4-1) pitched the complete-game shutout for the Lions scattering four hits and seven strikeouts in seven innings.
 
GAME TWO
UAFS scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth rallying for a game-two victory, 3-2, after the Hillcats evened the game in the eighth and took their only lead in the top of the ninth.
 
The Lions opened the scoring in the second, taking advantage of an RSU error, as CJ Nelson brought Rogers home on an RBI groundout.
 
RSU got a lead-off double from Alex Cochran to start the sixth inning and he moved 90 feet closer on a wild pitch. The next three Hillcat batters failed to bring the senior home as they remained behind, 1-0.
 
Cochran eventually crossed home plate for the tying run in the top of the eighth evening the score, 1-1. The Broken Arrow, Oklahoma native delivered a one-out single and moved into scoring position by stealing second base. Zack Ashford ripped a RBI double into right field to tie the game for the Hillcats.
 
Andrew Vanisi doubled into left field with two outs in the ninth for his third hit and second double of the nightcap. Austin Culwell stepped to the plate and came through for the Cats giving RSU its first lead of the day plating Vanisi on a single to right.
 
The 2-1 margin did not last through the final frame as the Lions rallied with two runs in the bottom of the ninth as Nelson provided the walk-off single into left on a two-out pitch for a 3-2 victory.
 
T.J. Law (1-2) took the loss on the mound for the Hillcats after starter Michael Fusselman allowed just one unearned run on four hits in 7.1 innings. Hayden Harvey (1-1) picked up the win in relief for UAFS as starter Jordan Cordray went eight innings surrendering one run on five hits.
 
Rogers State (9-16, 2-9 HC) closes the three-game set against the Lions Saturday with first pitch scheduled for noon.