CLAREMORE, Okla. – The Rogers State baseball team used strong pitching from Michael Fusselman and Rusty Huber along with a two-run home run to propel the Hillcats to a 4-2 victory and a doubleheader split with No. 7 Lubbock Christian on Friday at the Diamond Sports Complex. The Chaps took game one, 5-1, to split the twin bill.
 
GAME ONE
 
In game one, LCU's Guillaume Blanchette pitched a complete seven innings and allowed one run on four hits as the Chaps were victorious 5-1. The senior southpaw struck out 13 in complete game win.
 
LCU went up 1-0 in the third inning on an RBI groundout that scored an unearned run. The lead doubled to 2-0 with a single up the middle in the fourth inning. In the sixth inning, the Chaps upped the edge to 3-0 with a double to the gap in left center.
 
A two-run home run in the sixth inning added two runs for LCU to increase the advantage to 5-0.
 
The Hillcats plated their one run in the seventh inning when Chris Miguel stole third base and a wild throw by the LCU catcher allowed Miguel to come in and score for a 5-1 score.
 
RSU starter Blake Roley allowed only one earned run in the start going six innings with eight hits and two strikeouts. Landon Nealon pitched the final inning with one hit allowed and one strikeout.
 
GAME TWO
 
Fusselman and Huber combined to allow only two runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts in the nightcap as the Cats won 4-2.
 
Fusselman went the first seven innings and allowed the two runs on six hits with four strikeouts. With the bases loaded in the eighth with no outs, Huber shut the door on the Chaps. He first got a strikeout and then made a nice grab on a liner back to him and tossed over to third base for an inning-ending double play. After a walk to start the ninth, Huber struck out back-to-back Chaps and ended the game on a groundout for the 4-2 victory.
 
Trailing 1-0, Marley made the first RSU hit of the game count with a two-run home run to center field to give the Hillcats a 2-1 advantage in the fifth inning. Samuel Davison's sac fly scored Ismael Orozco for a 3-1 lead.
 
The Chaps made it interesting with one run in the eighth, and loaded the bases before Huber, who made his single-season record 21st appearance, ended the inning.
 
RSU put one more run on the board in the eighth inning with a double by Miguel to score Caleb Kohlmeyer for the 4-2 final score.
 
Four Hillcats finished with hits. Marley went 1-for-3 with two RBI. Miguel finished 1-for-3 with one RBI. Orozco and Garrett Hall each added hits.
 
The three-game series concludes tomorrow at 1 p.m. with one nine-inning contest at the Diamond Sports Complex. Live stats and video will be available on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.