WARRENSBURG, Mo. – The Rogers State Baseball team fell to No. 4 Central Missouri 8-3 in game two of the opening MIAA series of the season on Saturday at Jim Crane Stadium.
 
How It Happened: Central Missouri took the lead in the bottom of the first inning, executing a sac bunt squeeze to score the opening run of the game.
 
Kyle Simms would tie the game in the second inning with an RBI ground out, scoring Jonathan Soto from third.
 
However, Central Missouri would answer with a four-run inning in the bottom of the second to take a commanding lead they never relinquished. The Mules would add another run in the third to go up 6-1.
 
Rogers State scored two runs in the sixth inning, the first coming on a sacrifice fly by Soto to bring in Mason Harvey. Cameron Castaneda then grounded into a fielder's choice that scored Follett for the final Hillcat run.
 
The Mules would answer the two runs from Rogers State with a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth for the final runs of the game.
 
Key Statistic: Central Missouri immediately answered all three Hillcats runs in the game with a combined six runs in the bottom half of the same inning.
 
Players of Focus: Follett led the Hillcats with two hits in the game. The senior was 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored.
 
Soto hit a triple with his only hit of the game, leading to the first run for Rogers State. Soto was 1-for-3 with a sacrifice fly.
 
Victor Ceniceros had the only other extra-base hit for the Hillcats, going 1-for-4 with a double.
 
Brett Karalius game up eight runs on 11 hits and a walk in the loss. He tossed 5.2 innings with four strikeouts.
 
What It Means: The loss for Rogers State means that Central Missouri officially clinches the three-game series with victories in the first two games.
 
Up Next: The Hillcats will look to claim the final game of the series on Sunday, as Rogers State takes on Central Missouri at 1 p.m. at Jim Crane Stadium.