Oklahoma City, Okla. – The Rogers State baseball team took two games from Oklahoma Christian on Friday (May 4) to start a four-game series at Dobson Field in the final four games of the 2018 season for the navy and red. The Hillcats (25-23, 11-15 Heartland) won by the scores of 10-3 and 7-6 over the Eagles.
 
RSU 10, OC 3
 
RSU used two big innings to build a 10-1 advantage in game one en route to the 10-3 victory. With the score tied at 1-1 going into the fourth inning, the Cats put up three runs in the inning to go up 4-1. A six-run sixth inning made it 10-1 before two late scores by the Eagles.
 
After Zack Mann started the scoring for RSU in the third inning with a single through the right side, Garrett Hall gave the Hillcats a 2-1 edge with an RBI single in the fourth inning. Sam Casinelli extended the margin to 4-1 when he doubled to the gap in left to drive in two runs.
 
In the sixth inning, RSU poured on six runs, including five on two home runs, to go in front 10-1. Bradley Degnan opened the offensive outburst in the inning with a two-run homer to right. After Brendan Griffith brought in one run with a single, Grant Farris hit a three-run home run to left for the 10-1 score.
 
OC put up two runs in the seventh inning with a two-RBI triple for the final 10-3 margin.
 
The Hillcats registered 14 hits in game one. Farris finished 2-for-3 with three RBI. Degnan was 2-for-4 with two RBI. Casinelli went 2-for-3 with two RBI.
 
Senior Tim Luce ended his career in the navy and red with a complete-game victory. He went the full 7.0 innings with five strikeouts and only three runs allowed on eight hits.   
 
RSU 7, OC 6
 
After falling behind 4-1 in the nightcap, RSU took control of the contest with two three-run innings in the fifth and seventh to earn the close 7-6 victory.
 
Down 4-1 in the fifth, the navy and red used three runs to tie the score at 4-4. Degnan got the offense going with an RBI double to left. And Mann evened the game at 4-4 with a two-RBI single to right.
 
After the Eagles took a 5-4 in the sixth with a bases loaded walk, the Hillcats tallied three runs in the seventh to gain a 7-5 advantage. Mann continued his strong day with a two-RBI single to the gap in right to lift RSU to a 6-5 lead. Griffith drove in the game-winning run with a single to center to plate Mann for a 7-5 mark.
 
OC once again tallied a run in the final inning, but closer Brock Knoten got three-straight outs to give the Cats the 7-6 victory.
 
Mann posted a 2-for-5 performance in game two at the plate with four RBI. Degnan went 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored.
 
Preston Whitten started game two and pitched 4.2 innings. Joey Lucas picked up the win in 2.1 innings of relief. Sean Robinson came in for one inning, and Knoten earned the save, his team-best five of the season, with three outs in the ninth inning.
 
The Hillcats conclude the 2018 season with two more games at Oklahoma Christian. The doubleheader starts at 12 p.m. with live stats and video streaming available.