CLAREMORE, Okla. – The Rogers State baseball team attempted to rally back from a seven-run deficit, but fell just short in an 8-7 loss to Southeastern Oklahoma State Tuesday afternoon at the Diamond Sports Complex.
Trailing 8-1 in the fourth innings, the Hillcats made things interesting scoring four times in the sixth and two in the eighth only to fall one run shy. Despite numerous opportunities to tie the game late, RSU stranded 12 runners on base in the contest, including eight in the final four innings.
The Savage Storm came out swinging from the start as Dylan Helms drove the first pitch into the gap for a lead-off double. The senior scored two batters later on a RBI groundout as the visitors struck for the 1-0 lead.
The margin swelled to 7-0 in the top of the third as Southeastern posted a six-run inning behind back-to-back home runs by Brandon Grimsley and Greg Husnander.
The Hillcats clawed their way back chipping the lead down to three putting up four runs on four hits in the bottom of the sixth. A lead-off walk to
Cesar Rodriguez followed by a one-out single from
Ismael Orozco and a walk to
Jason Marley loaded the bases.
Samuel Davison blooped a single into right center and
Garrett Hall drove a two-run double inside the right-field line getting the team re-energized.
Zack Ashford kept the inning going drawing a walk to load the bases again as RSU got the tying run to the plate.
Caleb Kohlmeyer came through with a RBI, infield single to extend the rally making it an 8-5 game before Southeastern was able to get out of the inning.
The Cats pushed even closer in the bottom of the eighth plating a pair of runs as reliever Brady Colbert issued consecutive bases-loaded walks to Miguel and Orozco making it a tight, 8-7 score. Davison led the ninth with a single to right center as RSU put the winning run to the plate, but Colbert retired the next three batters for his third save this season.
Kohlmeyer and Davison led the offense with two hits each, while Ashford scored twice and Hall finished with two RBI.
Michael Fusselman took the loss for RSU lasting 2.1 innings giving up seven runs on seven hits.
The Hillcats (8-2 overall) continue an eight-game home stand Friday afternoon at 3 p.m. hosting the Cougars of Colorado Christian.
