CLAREMORE, Okla. – The Rogers State baseball team swept UA Fort Smith on Friday at the Diamond Sports Complex taking games by the scores of 9-8 and 4-1.
 
Rusty Huber set the career and single-season save records as he picked up his seventh and eighth saves in the two wins. He currently ranks third in NCAA Division II with the eight saves.
 
Chris Miguel belted two home runs to lead the Hillcat offense over UAFS, which came into today's series in a tie for first place in the league standings.
 
GAME ONE
 
The Hillcats rallied from a 6-0 deficit to win 9-8 in the first game of the doubleheader.
 
UAFS plated three runs in the first inning on a three-run homer. The lead doubled to 6-0 in the second after a single to the gap scored two runs. One run scored on a bases loaded walk.
 
RSU started its comeback with three runs in the bottom of the second inning. Garrett Hall doubled to left center to bring in Colton Crocker and Miguel for a 6-2 score. A wild pitch allowed Hall to score from third base to make it 6-3.
 
After one run from the Lions in the third, the Hillcats poured on four runs in their half of the inning to tie the score at 7-7. The scoring started with a two-run opposite field homer from Miguel to cut the margin to 7-5. Hall pulled RSU to within one with a single to center to plate Jason Marley. Zack Ashford knotted the score at 7-7 as Crocker scored on a double play.
 
The Hillcats gained their first lead in the fifth inning on a RBI single from Samuel Davison to again score Crocker for an 8-7 advantage. In the sixth, Marley singled down the line to bring home Cesar Rodriguez for a 9-7 lead.
 
Huber came in with two outs in the sixth and got a pop out to end the inning. For the first time all season, Huber allowed an earned run, coming on a home run, but got three straight outs to get the 9-8 win and his first save of the day.
 
Blake Roley started going the first 5.0 innings. He picked up the win as he totaled three strikeouts and seven runs on 10 hits. Josh Eclavea pitched 0.2 innings with two fly outs and a walk.
 
Hall finished 3-for-3 at the plate with three RBI. Miguel was 2-for-2 with two RBI and two walks. Rodriguez and Marley went 2-for-4.
 
GAME TWO
 
The Hillcats shutdown the UAFS lineup holding the Lions to one run in a 4-1 victory in the nine-inning nightcap.
 
Michael Fusselman pitched a gem in game one going 8.0 innings and allowing only one run on eight hits with two strikeouts on 92 pitches. Huber pitched the ninth to get his second save of the doubleheader.
 
RSU went up 1-0 as Davison scored on a wild pitch in the third inning. Miguel sent out his second homer of the day in the fourth, a solo shot that put the Hillcats up 2-0.
 
After allowing only one run when the bases were loaded, RSU got some insurance with two runs in the eighth inning. With the bases loaded due to three walks, Davison was hit by a pitch for a 3-1 score. Crocker worked a walk in his at bat for the 4-1 advantage.
 
Huber came in for the ninth and got two quick outs. After a single and a walk, Huber finished off the Lions with a strikeout.  
 
Davison went 2-for-2 with one RBI. Miguel, Caleb Kohlmeyer and Jordan Garr each added one hit.
 
The Hillcats (18-12, 5-6 Heartland) end the three-game series tomorrow (April 2) with one nine-inning contest at 1 p.m. at the Diamond Sports Complex. Coverage is available on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.