ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Rogers State Baseball team fell short in a come-back-bid to Missouri Western 9-7 on Saturday in game two of the three-game MIAA series at Griffon Baseball Field.
 
How It Happened: After a scoreless third inning, the Hillcats fell behind when the Griffons scored three runs in the bottom of the second inning on a solo home run and then an RBI double followed by an RBI single.
 
Missouri Western would add to their lead with a pair of RBI singles in the third inning and then a pair of 2 RBI doubles in the fourth inning, as the Griffons went up 9-0.
 
Rogers State plated a run in the fifth inning as Cameron Castaneda reached on an error at third base that allowed Jonathan Soto to come around and score from second.
 
In the eighth inning, the Hillcats started a comeback bid, scoring six runs. Nick Follett started the scoring with a RBI double, bringing around Christian Merriwether.
 
Brandon Bradshaw then singled home Mason Harvey before Soto hit a sacrifice fly to score Follett from third, cutting the deficit to 9-4.
 
A couple batters later, Kyle Simms doubled in a pair of runs, as Cameron Castaneda and Bradshaw scored. Two batters later, Simms scored on a single by Victor Ceniceros to cut the deficit to just to runs at 9-7.
 
However, the Hillcats would strand a runner in the inning and another runner in the ninth, falling short.
 
Players of Note: Harvey was 3-for-5 at the plate in the game, scoring one run.
 
Simms was the only other Hillcat with multiple hits, finishing with two, including a double. He was also the only Hillcat to drive in multiple runs in the game, finishing with two RBIs.
 
CJ Edwards pitched two scoreless innings of relief, allowing just one hit with a strikeout.
 
Leonardo Castro also tossed two scoreless innings, striking out two while allowing just one hit.
 
Notes: The Hillcats were held to just four hits and a walk in the first seven innings in the game.
 
The Hillcats stranded seven base runners in the game. Missouri Western stranded eight.
 
Rogers State pitching had five strikeouts to five walks. Missouri Western pitching had three strikeouts to one walk.
 
The Hillcats have started the MIAA season 0-5 and have lost six of the last seven games.
 
Up Next: Rogers State will look to avoid the series sweep on Sunday, as they take on the Griffons in game three. First pitch is set for noon.