ALVA, Okla. – Rogers State dropped it's season opener on Sunday, falling at Northwestern Oklahoma State 5-2.
The Hillcats answered an early run from the Rangers, but were unable to keep pace with the hosts, who scored four runs in the middle innings to pull away.
How It Happened: The Rangers took an early lead with an RBI double in the bottom of the first.
The Hillcats responded with a big swing from
Brandon Bradshaw in the top of the second. Bradshaw hit his second career home run, both against Northwestern Oklahoma, with a solo shot to right field to tie the game.
However, Northwestern Oklahoma went back in front in the third inning, loading the bases before a wild pitch from
Jackson Simonsgaard allowed the go-ahead run for the Rangers to score from third.
Simonsgaard and the Hillcats would get out of the third without any more damage, but the Rangers had another RBI double in the fourth to extend the lead.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Rangers added a run on a sacrifice bunt that allowed a run to score from third, followed up by an RBI single to extend the lead to 5-1.
Rogers State would get one run back in the ninth as a pair of newcomers picked up doubles to plate a run.
Skyler Nelson led off the inning with a double down the right field line. Two batters later,
Jerry Davis brought Nelson around to score the final run of the game with a double to center.
Key Statistic: Northwestern State out hit the Hillcats 11-7, but also had six doubles compared to just three for Rogers State.
Players of Note: Christian Merriwether and
Jerry Davis led the Hillcats at the plate as both went 2-for-4 on the day. Davis also had one of the two RBIs for the Hillcats.
Bradshaw finished the day 1-for-3 with his home run and a walk.
Simonsgaard went 3.1 innings in the loss. He allowed three runs on five hits and three walks. He also had six strikeouts.
Nick Marinac tossed three innings of relief, allowing two runs on four hits with two strikeouts.
Drake Norton tossed 1.2 scoreless innings to close the game, scattering two hits.
Notes from the Games: Sunday's loss is the first loss in a season opener for the Hillcats since the 2007 season, snaping a streak of 13-straight season opening wins.
Northwestern State allowed just one walk in the game, while the Hillcats walked three batters.
Hillcat pitchers recorded eight strikeouts in the game to just five from the Rangers.
Both teams finished with one error in the game.
Rogers State stranded six runners on base, while Northwestern Oklahoma stranded eight runners.
Up Next: Rogers State will wrap up its season-opening series at Northwestern Oklahoma State on Monday with a doubleheader. The Hillcats and Rangers will begin play at 1 p.m.
