CLAREMORE, Okla. – Grant Farris had three hits and Griffin Keller broke a tie in the eighth inning with a solo home run to give Rogers State a 6-5 victory over Newman University in the Heartland Conference series opener at the Diamond Sports Complex.
 
The visitors jumped out to an early lead, scoring on a sacrifice fly in the top of the first to take a 1-0 lead.
 
Newman would grow their lead in the third inning with a pair of runs, capitalizing on an error from the Hillcats, to go up 3-0.
 
Farris would put the Hillcats on the scoreboard with a single up the middle to score Christian Merriwether in the bottom of the third, but the Hillcats would find themselves even further behind in the seventh inning when the Jets plated two more runs.
 
In the bottom of the seventh inning, it would be Farris again who would get the Hillcats rolling with a two-RBI single to left field, bringing around Christopher Ford and Christian Merriwether.
 
Farris would then score with Zack Mann on a two-out double down the left field line by Brandon Bradshaw to tie the game at five.
 
In the eighth inning, the Hillcats would grab their first lead of the game as Keller smashed a 1-1 pitch over the fence in right center.
 
Sean Robinson, who pitched a scoreless eighth inning, earned the win in relief. Brock Knoten picked up his conference leading ninth save of the season.
 
The Hillcats will face Newman in two games on Friday to close the series. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. at the Diamond Sports Complex.