ADA, Okla. – Griffin Keller hit Rogers State Baseball's first-ever cycle, while Christian Merriwether tied a school record for hits in a game, as the Hillcats defeated East Central University 19-10 in a non-conference battle at Ken Turner Field.
 
Keller started his day with a double to right field in the top of the first, driving in Nick Follett for the fifth run of the inning. Grant Farris started the scoring in the inning with a double to score Merriwether. Brandon Bradshaw then tripled home Zack Mann and Farris before scoring on a passed ball.
 
Keller would record a single in the third inning and then led off the fifth inning with a solo homerun to left field, making it 8-2 at the time.
 
Keller would complete his cycle in the seventh inning with an RBI triple, bring around Follett for the second time on the day. Keller would add three RBIs and two runs scored.
 
Merriwether was a facilitator for the Hillcats in the game. After his leadoff single to start the game led to a 5-run inning, Merriwether picked up his second hit by leading off in the second inning. After stealing second, he would score on a Farris single.
 
In the fourth inning, it was Merriwether who led off again, this time doubling to center field. Mann would make it back-to-back doubles, trading places with Merriwether, who scored to put the Hillcats up 7-0 in the top of the fourth.
 
For the fourth straight at bat, Merriwether would record a lead off base hit for the Hillcats, singling to the shortstop to start the sixth. He would later score on a Farris single to put the Hillcats ahead 9-2.
 
After a hit-by-pitch in the seventh and a flyout in the eight, Merriwether would cap his RSU record-tying 5-hit day with a single to left in the ninth. He also scored five runs in the game.
 
Despite the record-setting performances, the Hillcats had to battle off a charge by the host Tigers, who scored six in the sixth inning to cut the Hillcat lead to 9-8.
 
However, Rogers State battled back scoring six runs of their own in the seventh, started by Dylan Russel's RBI to score Brendan Griffith.
 
Bradshaw would hit a two RBI single to score Russell and Chiaramonte to make it 12-8. Follett then picked up a two-RBI single to score Bradshaw and Merriwether, followed by Keller's triple to make it 15-9.
 
After two runs by East Central in the eighth inning, Farris homered to left center in the ninth, followed by RBU singles from Follett and Griffith to score Bradshaw and then Keller and Follett.
 
Drew Van Winkle picked up the win, going 5.2 innings, allowing six runs on eight hits. He finished with five strikeouts.
 
While Merriwether led the day with five hits and five runs, Farris finished with four hits and had a team-high four RBIs. Follett and Bradshaw had three RBI hits with their multi-hit days.
 
The Hillcats will now set their sights back on Heartland Conference play, traveling to Arkansas to take on Arkansas Fort-Smith in a three-game series on Thursday and Friday. The Hillcats and Lions will open up the series with a doubleheader on Thursday starting at 1 p.m.