HAYS, Kan. – The Rogers State baseball team held on to pick up a thrilling come-from-behind victory in the series opener at Fort Hays State on Friday afternoon, winning 7-6.
 
Rogers State 7, Fort Hays State 6
Records:  Rogers State (8-6, 5-5 MIAA)  |  Fort Hays State (2-12, 2-8 MIAA)
W: Jackson Simonsgaard (2-2)  |  L: Brayden Smith (0-1)  |  S: Jordan Ewig (2)  

How It Happened

• After the Hillcats stranded the bases loaded in the top of the first inning, the Tigers took the lead with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Fort Hays started the scoring with a one-out double and then doubled the lead with a sacrifice fly.
• Prescott Horn put the Hillcats on the board with an RBI single in the top of the second, scoring Victor Ceniceros, who reached on a two-out single two batters earlier.
• Fort Hays would answer in the bottom half of the inning, capitalizing on a Hillcat error to extend the lead to 3-1.
• With runners on the corners in the fourth, Christian Merriwether executed a bunt to perfection, singling on the play and scoring Ryan Reed from third. Later in the inning, Skyler Nelson singled home Merriwehter to tie the game at 3-3.
• Fort Hays State went back in front in the fifth inning, capitalizing on a pair of fielding errors to score two runs and retake the lead at 5-3.
• However, the Hillcats would respond with a big four-run inning in the sixth to take control of the game. Horn started the scoring with a RBI single to left to bring around Ceniceros and cut the deficit to one run.
• Nelson then hit a ball up the middle that was misplayed by the shortstop and Merriwether scored to tie the game at 5.
• Brandon Bradshaw drove in the go-ahead run, as he grounded out to the right side, allowing Horn to score form third. Jerry Davis then singled up the middle to score Nelson to give Rogers State a 7-5 lead.
• Fort Hays State threatened the Hillcats in the ninth, getting runners on second and third with two outs. The Tigers looked to have tied the game with a hit to left field, but Horn's throw to Jonathan Soto at the plate was in time to nab the tying run and secure the victory for the Hillcats.

Game Notes

• Jackson Simonsgaard got the win on the mound, going five innings with three earned runs against on seven hits. Simonsgaard improves to 2-2 on the year.
• With his five strikeouts, Simonsgaard ties Tyler Garner (136) for third on the all-time strikeout list at Rogers State.
• Merriwether had a season high four hits in the game, the most by any Hillcat this season, as he went 4-for-5 at the plate with two runs scored and an RBI.
• Horn set a new career high with two RBIs in the game. The freshman also matched a season best two hits on the afternoon.
• The Hillcats out hit Fort Hays State 15-10 in the game. The 15 hits were a season high for the Hillcats.
• Both teams finished the game with three errors each.
• Rogers State stranded nine runners in the game, including seven in scoring position. Fort Hays stranded 10 baserunners in the game.

Up Next
Rogers State will wrap up the series on Saturday in Hays, Kansas, taking on Fort Hays State in the final two games of the three-game series. The first game of the doubleheader will begin at noon at Larks Park.