DENVER, Colo. – The Rogers State baseball team dropped both games of a doubleheader at Regis on Saturday (Feb. 25) to start a four-game series at the Regis Baseball Field. The Rangers took game one by the score of 9-2 and picked up the sweep with a walk-off solo home run in the seventh inning for a 5-4 victory in the nightcap.
Regis 9, Rogers State 2
The host Rangers jumped on the Hillcats early with five runs in the first two innings en route to the 9-2 win for Regis in the first game. RU pulled out to a 9-0 lead in its way to the victory.
A two-run homer put the first two runs on the scoreboard for RU in the first inning as the Rangers hit two home runs in the contest. Regis added three more runs in the second inning with a double to the gap in left to start the scoring. Two more RU runs came on back-to-back RBI singles to build the 5-0 advantage.
Regis continued to plate runs with three in the fifth inning and one more in the sixth inning. The Rangers added another home run, this time a solo shot in the fifth inning. The final two runs in the fifth inning scored on a single to center, and an error by RSU as the Cats totaled a season-high six errors in the game.
Another Hillcat error in the sixth inning allowed the Rangers to score their final run for a 9-0 margin.
The navy and red tried to rally with two runs in the seventh inning, but the nine-run deficit was too much to overcome in the 9-2 loss.
Jason Marley singled to drive in
Chris Miguel for RSU's first run. A
Jordan Garr single put runners in motion and a miscue from the Rangers allowed Marley to come home due to throwing error, the lone error of the game for RU.
Tim Luce started on the mound for the Cats. Coming in with a 2-0 record this season, the junior from Claremore, Okla. picked up his first loss, going 4.2 innings and allowing seven earned runs and 12 hits.
Brock Knoten pitched the final 1.1 innings.
Marley and Garr each went 2-for-3 at the plate.
Regis 5, Rogers State 4
With one out in the bottom of the seventh inning in a 4-4 tie game, RU's Andrew Bryniarski ended the contest with a walk-off solo homer to right field to give the home team the doubleheader sweep with a 5-4 victory.
The scoring started early for both teams is the Hillcats and Rangers combined for seven runs after only three innings. RSU held a slight 4-3 edge after the teams traded runs.
RSU jumped out early with two runs in the first inning. Marley continued his hot day with a two-RBI single to right to plate
Bradley Degnan and
Matt Seubert for an early 2-0 lead.
The Rangers responded with two runs of their own to tie the score at 2-2 after one inning. RU produced its two runs on two-consecutive hits, a double to left and a single to center for the 2-2 score.
In the second inning, RU gained a slight 3-2 advantage on a singled to center.
Marley wasn't done, hitting an RBI double to tie the score at 3-3 in the third inning. The navy and red regained the edge on a
Garrett Hall infield single to plate
Ismael Orozco for a 4-3 edge.
The host Rangers evened the score at 4-4 in the fifth inning on a groundout to set up the dramatic walk-off win.
Devland Zakar made his fourth straight of the season, going 4.0 innings and allowing three runs.
Justin Magstadt went 1.1 innings and gave up the tying run in the fifth.
Rusty Huber dropped to 1-2 on the season as he allowed the game-winning walk-off home run.
Marley again went 2-for-3 from the plate, totaling three RBI. For the day, Marley finished 4-for-6 hitting with four RBI. Degnan was 2-for-4 at the plate with one run scored.
The Hillcats and Rangers finish the four-game set with another doubleheader tomorrow (Feb. 26) with game one set for 11 a.m. at the Regis Baseball Field. Live stats and video will be available.
