HAYS, Kan. – Rogers State baseball completed a sweep of Fort Hays State on Saturday, sweeping both games of the doubleheader at Larks Park.
 
GAME ONE
Rogers State 16, Fort Hays State 2
Records:  Rogers State (9-6, 6-5 MIAA)  |  Fort Hays State (2-13, 2-9 MIAA)
W: Brett Karalius (3-1)  |  L: Ryan Ruder (0-2)

How It Happened

• Fort Hays took an early lead with an RBI double in the bottom of the first, but the Hillcant responded with a run in the top of the second, as Brooks Betcher executed a bunt single with runners on the corners to score Jerry Davis from third to tie the game at 1.
• The Hillcats took the lead in the third inning, as Prescott Horn hit his first homerun as a Hillcat, with a solo shot to left field.
• Rogers State would add one more run in the third, as Jonathan Soto doubled home Skyler Nelson to make it 3-1.
• RSU held a 3-1 lead into the fifth inning, when the Tigers cut the deficit to one run with an RBI single.
• After a scoreless sixth inning, the Hillcats blew the game wide open with an eight run seventh inning. Brandon Bradshaw started the scoring with a single to score Horn and make it 4-2.
• A few batters later, Soto hit a three-run home run to extend the Hillcat lead to 7-2.
• Later in the inning, Victor Ceniceros would single home Mason Harvey and then Christian Merriwether grounded into a sac bunt, as Betcher scored from third to make it 9-2.
• Bradshaw would cap the inning with a double down the left field line, scoring Ceniceros and Horn.
• With the bases loaded in the eighth inning, Merriwether reached on a fielder's choice RBI as Ceniceros scored.
• Two batters later, with the bases loaded, Nelson hit a grand slam down the left field line to cap the scoring at 16-2.

Game Notes

• Soto and Horn both hit their first home runs for the Hillcats.
• Nelson hit his second home run of the season and his first grand slam for the navy and red.
• The three Hillcat homeruns is the most in a game for Rogers State this season.
• Brett Karalius tossed seven innings, allowing two runs on five hits. He finished with five strikeouts and just one walk.
• Karalius improved to 3-1 on the season.
• Nick Marinac tossed a scoreless eighth inning for the Hillcats.
• Bradshaw finished the day with a season high four hits. It is the second time this season a Hillcat had four hits in a game.
• Rogers State had 17 hits in the game to just seven for Fort Hays State.
• The 17 hits for Rogers State is a season high. The 16 runs also matched a season high.

GAME TWO
Rogers State 9, Fort Hays State 4
Records:  Rogers State (10-6, 7-5 MIAA)  |  Fort Hays State (2-14, 2-10 MIAA)
W: Corey Murphy (1-2)  |  L: Jayce Meyer (0-2)

How It Happened

• Rogers State took the lead in the top of the first as Horn scored on a play when Bradshaw was caught stealing.
• Fort Hays State answered back with a run in the bottom of the first.
• The Hillcats regained the lead with a pair of RBI singles from Betcher and Horn in the top of the second, scoring Soto and Mason Harvey, respectively.
• The Tigers would score three times in the third on a single, sacrifice fly and a double to take a 4-3 lead.
• After a scoreless fourth inning, Nelson tied the game at 4-4 with a solo home run in the fifth inning.
• Later in the fourth, Soto singled home Bradshaw to give the Hillcats the lead. Betcher would cap the scoring in the inning with a bases loaded sacrifice fly, scoring Davis to give RSU a 6-4 lead.
• Rogers State would add runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings. Nelson singled home Merriwether in the sixth to make it 7-4.
• Ceniceros grounded out with a sacrifice bunt to allow Soto to score from third in the seventh inning.
• Nelson hit his second homerun of the day in the eighth, putting a solo shot over the fence in left field to cap the scoring at 9-4.

Game Notes

• Nelson became the first Hillcat to homer twice in the same game since Nick Follett did it in the NCAA Regional at No. 4 Angelo State in May of 2019.
• Nelson now has four home runs on the season, leading the Hillcats.
• Nelson and Soto each had four hits in the game, joining Bradshaw and Merriwether as the other four-hit performances this season. All four of the four-hit performances have come in the three-game series against Fort Hays State.
• Horn had his third multi-hit game of the season and second of the weekend, finishing with two hits.
• Corey Murphy picked up the win, going five innings. He allowed four runs on seven hits with two walks and two strikeouts. He improved to 1-2 on the season.
• Jordan Ewig tossed scoreless innings in the sixth and seventh with two strikeouts.
• Vinny Riggio struck out the side in the eighth inning.
• Octavio Sanchez tossed a scoreless ninth inning with one strikeout.

Up Next
Rogers State will jump back into non-conference play with a trip to Oklahoma City to take on Oklahoma Christian in a single game on Tuesday. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. against the Eagles.