CLAREMORE, Okla. – Rogers State Baseball picked up a doubleheader split with the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith Friday afternoon at the Diamond Sports Complex, falling in game one 4-3 before winning game two 7-5.
The Hillcats fell behind in game one and were never able to take a lead despite tying the game three times.
Arkansas-Fort Smith started the scoring off with an RBI single to go up 1-0 in the top of the first.
Nick Follett answered right back for the Hillcats, batting in
Christian Merriwether with an RBI single to left.
The Lions answered back in the top of the second on a fielder's choice.
In the fifth, the Hillcats would tie the game back at 2-2 with a sacrifice fly from
Zack Mann to shore
Blake Chiaramonte. However, the Lions would answer again with a solo homerun to retake the lead.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Hillcats would rally to push the game to extra innings as RSU capitalized on an error from the Lions to score the tying run.
Arkansas Fort-Smith would answer once more, taking the lead on an infield ground out as the Hillcats were unable to turn an inning-ending double play.
Sean Robinson picked up the loss in relief, giving up the one run on no hits and two walks in one inning.
Corey Murphy started the game and went four innings, allowing two runs on four hits with two strikeouts.
In game two, Arkansas- Fort Smith jumped out in front again with an RBI single to go up 1-0 in the top of the first.
However, the Hillcats answered back with a big six-run inning in the second to take a lead it never relinquished.
Griffin Keller started the scoring for Rogers State with a single through the right side to score Follett. Chiaramonte would follow it up a few batters later with a bases loaded RBI single to center field.
Keller would then score on a fielder's choice as Merriwether was able to beat out a double play to extend the inning.
The Hillcats would then get three more runs, the first coming off the bat of
Zack Mann who singled through the right side to score
Brendan Griffith. Farris then doubled down the left field line, scoring Merriwether and Mann.
The visitors would get one run back in the third with a solo home run, cutting the deficit to 6-2.
Farris would get one more RBI as he singled to left and brought around Merriwether for the Hillcats final run.
Arkansas-Fort Smith would get three runs back in the seventh on a homerun, but
Jackson Simonsgaard was able to hold on to pick up his fourth win of the season with the complete game. Simonsgaard had eight strikeouts in the game.
The Hillcats will host the rubber match of the series tomorrow, with first pitch set for 1 p.m. at the Diamond Sports Complex.
