ALVA, Okla. – Rogers State baseball picked up a doubleheader sweep of Northwestern Oklahoma State Monday afternoon at Myers Stadium, winning game one 6-2 before taking the series with a 16-9 victory in the second game of the day.
 
With the first win of the day, Rogers State head coach Chris Klimas picked up his 150^th career win. Offensively, Brandon Bradshaw led the way in both games, driving in seven runs, including his second home run of the season after homering in yesterday's season opener.
 
How It Happened (Game One): Brett Karalius pitched two scoreless innings to start the day before the Hillcats got things going offensively in the third inning. The Hillcats loaded the bases with two outs and Bradshaw worked a walk to plate the first run of the say as Merriwether scored.
 
The lead was short-lived, as the Rangers answered with a single in the bottom of the third to bring a run around from second to tie the game at one.
 
Rogers State would answer back in the top of the fourth, loading the bases again. Mason Harvey hit a ball up the middle that turned into a fielder's choice but allowed Brooks Betcher to score from third.
 
The Hillcats would add to their lead in the fourth inning as a double by Bradshaw scored Skyler Nelson and Jonathan Soto to make it 4-1. Bradshaw would then come around to score on a single by Jerry Davis.
 
The Rangers would score one run on a single in the seventh inning against Jordan Ewig, but that would be the final run allowed by the Hillcats as Vinny Riggio and Octavio Sanchez pitched scoreless innings in the eighth and ninth, respectively.
 
Rogers State would add another insurance run in the ninth, loading up the bases before an infield single by Davis scored Soto for the final run of the game.
 
How It Happened (Game Two): Game two had a rough start for the Hillcats as the Rangers would plate six runs in the bottom of the first to take a commanding lead early.
 
The score would remain 6-0 in favor of the hosts until the third inning when the Hillcats scored four runs to cut into the deficit. Christian Merriwether brought around the first run as he singled to right to score Kyle Simms and Betcher.
 
After a Mason Harvey walk, Soto would then double home Merriwether followed up by a RBI groundout from Nelson to score Harvey.
 
After a scoreless third inning on the mound for CJ Edwards, the Hillcats would get right back to scoring as Merriwether doubled home Betcher and Simms to tie the game at 6-6. Another Harvey walk would precede a Soto single to score Merriwether and give the Hillcats the lead at 7-6.
 
With Soto and Harvey on, Bradshaw would hit his second home run of the series, launching one over the right center fence to blow the lead open for the Hillcats in what proved to be the inning runs as the Hillcats went up 10-6.
 
Edwards would toss another scoreless inning in the bottom of the fourth.
 
In the fifth inning, pinch runner Erick Leef would score on a Victor Ceniceros single to extend Rogers State's lead to 11-6. Leef would then add another run in the sixth, batting home Nelson with an RBI single to left as Rogers State doubled up the Rangers 12-6.
 
The home team would answer back in the bottom of the sixth inning, as the Rangers cut the Hillcat lead in half with a three-run home run, but it would be as close as they would get.
 
Rogers State would seal the victory in the seventh inning by plating four runs. After loading the bases, Nelson drew a walk to score Ceniceros and make it 13-9. Bradshaw would then single to center to bring home Merriwether, but Soto would be caught out at the plate.
 
Davis would put a cap on the series with a triple down the right field line to score Bradshaw and Nelson for the final runs of the game.
 
Key Statistic: The Hillcats worked 14 walks on the day and were also hit by four pitches, earning 18 free trips on base to go along with 22 hits. Rogers State allowed just nine walks in two games and 16 total hits.
 
Players of Note: Bradshaw led the Hillcats with seven RBIs on the day. The senior finished 3-for-6 at the plate with three walks and a hit-by-pitch. Along with his home run, Bradshaw also had a double and scored three total runs.
 
Soto led the Hillcats with four hits on the afternoon. He finished with a pair of doubles and also had a walk and reached base with a hit-by-pitch. Soto finished with two RBIs and three runs scored.
 
Davis finished with three hits and four RBIs. The Hillcat newcomer had a triple and two walks on the day and also added a stolen base.
 
Merriwether finished the day with three hits, including a double, and four RBIs. He also had a hit-by-pitch, which gave him the school record for hit-by-pitches in a career with 24. He was tied with Sam Davison (2016-17) at 23 entering the season.
 
Simms reached base in all three plate appearances on the day, going 2-for-2 with a hit-by-pitch and two runs scored.
 
Karalius would pitch five innings for the win in game one, allowing just the one run on two hits and two walks. He had one strikeout.
 
Octavio Sanchez pitched a scoreless inning of relief in both games, striking out three without allowing a base runner of any kind.
 
Edwards recorded six outs for the win in game two. He did not allow a hit and had three strikeouts.
 
Case Woodard picked up three outs without allowing a run in game two. He had one strikeout and did not allow a base runner.
 
Notes from the Game: Chris Klimas picked up wins 150 and 151 of his career. The seventh-year head coach holds a record of 151-122 at the helm of the Hillcats.
 
Rogers State improved to 15-10 in the all-time series against the Rangers and 7-5 in Alva.
 
10 of the 11 Hillcats to record an at bat today had at least one hit. Eight Hillcats had multiple hits and nine scored at least one run.
 
The last time the Hillcats overcame a 5+ run deficit in a game came on February 5, 2019, when the Hillcats overcame a 5-0 hole at Southwest Baptist.
 
The last time the Hillcats scored at least 16 runs in a game came exactly one year ago when Rogers State plated 16 against McKendree on February 22, 2020 at the Diamond Sport Complex.
 
Up Next: Rogers State will welcome in Minot State on Thursday for the final tune-up game ahead of the start of the MIAA season. First pitch against Minot State is slated for 1 p.m. at the Diamond Sports Complex.