DENVER – Rogers State claimed the first game of the doubleheader, 3-0, on Sunday against the Regis Rangers, but the Hillcats were unable to even the four-game series at two games apiece as RU took game two of the doubleheader, 7-6, in extra innings at Regis Baseball Field.
 
Game One
 
The Hillcats started hot in the top of the first inning with the first three batters reaching base. A pickoff at first would bring an early out, but Sam Davison, reaching on a walk, moved to third on a single to right by Bradley Degnan. RSU was unable to plate Davison as the next two batters struck out to end the inning with two left on base.
 
A walk and a stolen base by Derek Brumble with two outs gave the Hillcats a runner in scoring position, but a ground out kept RSU off the scoreboard. RU went three up, three down in the home half including a strike out, third out of Geordy Smith, the second strikeout for RSU pitcher Spencer Bivens in as many innings.
 
RSU plated the first run of the game as Davison, who reached on a walk to lead off the inning, was sent home on a double to left by Chris Miguel with one out.
 
The Hillcats left three runners stranded over the next two innings, but clung to a 1-0 lead into the sixth inning. That's when Garrett Hall led off the top of the sixth with a single through the left side of the infield. The former Owasso Ram moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Brumble before Hall reached third on a wild pitch by Regis' Noah Gotsis.
 
Brooks Douglass doubled to left centerfield to plate Hall and give the Cats a 2-0 advantage. RSU wasn't finished as Matt Seubert's RBI single through the left side put RSU up 3-0.
 
The Rangers put two on with two outs in the home half of the sixth inning, but a fly out to third ended the inning. RU faced the minimum in the Hillcat half of the seventh, but RSU coach Chris Klimas called upon closer Rusty Huber for the home half of the inning. Huber faced four batters, fanning two for his second save of the season and closed out the Hillcats 3-0 victory to open the Sunday doubleheader.
 
Bivens (3-0) earned his third win of the season, allowing three hits while issuing one walk and striking out four. RSU pitchers combined for six strikeouts while allowing just three hits.
 
Gotsis (1-1) received the loss in the start for RU allowing five hits, one earned run with four walks and seven strikeouts.
 
The Hillcats totaled nine hits, but left nine runners stranded in the victory. Designated hitter Jason Marley went 2-for-3 with a walk while Douglass hit 2-for-3 with a RBI and a run scored.
 
Game Two
 
RSU struck first in the second game of the day and final game in the four-game series with a lead-off home run by Chris Miguel for his second RBI of the day in the second inning. After back-to-back outs, Garrett Hall went yard with a solo shot to put RSU up 2-0.
 
The Rangers answered in the home half of the inning as Garrett Skillings reached on a single to begin the inning. A bunt single moved Skillings to second and the Regis third baseman came home on a throwing error by the Hillcats trying to turn a double play and trim the RSU lead to 2-1.
 
The Hillcat lead grew to 3-1 as Brooks Douglass led off the third inning with a walk and moved to second on a wild pitch before scoring on a double by Sam Davison.
 
RU took the lead in the fifth inning with a three-run, home run by Josh Newell to right field for a 4-3 advantage.
 
The lead swung back in favor of RSU in the sixth with a single to left by Brumble to score Marley from third. The Rangers called upon Adam Montano from the bullpen, but the senior pitcher gave up a RBI double to Douglass scoring Ismael Orozco and Brumble scored on a wild pitch to put RSU up 6-4.
 
A solo home run by Ryan Tierney drew RU back to within a run, and the Rangers knotted the score at 6-6 with a bunt by Tierney to score Chris Kobar in the eighth.
 
RSU saw four reach base over the next three innings and left two stranded before a walk-off single by RU's Max Fabricant in the 11^th inning scored Tierney for the 7-6 extra innings victory for Regis.
 
Regis (6-4) pitcher Patrick Kenny (1-0) earned the win in two innings of relief work, allowing one hit and striking out two. Montano went 3.2 innings of scoreless work, allowing two hits and struck out four. The Rangers starter Matt Heibult went 5.1 innings, allowing all six earned runs on eight hits with one walk and striking out five.
 
Brock Knoten (0-1) received the loss in two-third innings of work, giving up one earned run on two hits in relief. Josh Eclavea went 5.2 innings in his second start of the season, allowing four earned runs on six hits while walking two and striking out two. RSU batters combined to allow 12 hits while the Hillcats committed two errors and left six on base offensively.
 
Rogers State (8-5) returns home to host Pittsburg State on Wednesday, March 1 at 2 p.m. at the Diamond Sports Complex. Live stats will be provided at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.