WICHITA, Kan. – Rogers State baseball opened up its MIAA series at Newman on Saturday with a 16-6 win over the Jets at McCarthy Field.
 
Rogers State 16, Newman 6
Records:  Rogers State (14-15, 11-14 MIAA)  |  Newman (6-19, 5-17 MIAA)
W: Brett Karalius (4-4)  |  L: Ryan Boaz (0-6)

How It Happened

• Newman would take a lead in the second inning with a pair of RBI doubles to plate two runs.
• Rogers State responded with the next nine runs, including three immediately in the top of the third inning.
• Brooks Betcher started the scoring with a RBI single to left, scoring Christian Merriwether.
• Jerry Davis then hit a bases loaded single to center a few batters later, scoring Betcher and Prescott Horn to put the Hillcats in front 3-2.
• After a scoreless fourth inning, Horn started the scoring in the fifth with a single through the left side to score Mason Harvey.
• Brandon Bradshaw then followed up with a triple to score Horn and then Bradshaw scored on a single from Jonathan Soto, giving the Hillcats a 6-2 lead.
• Davin Kapuras then hit an RBI double to left center, scoring Soto. After Kapuras was pinch run for by Erick Leef, Merriwether singled to left to score Leef as RSU went up 8-2.
• The Hillcats would load the bases later in the fifth inning and Betcher picked up an RBI walk to score Merriwether for the final Hillcat run of the inning.
• After Newman scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth, Rogers State answered with two more runs in the top of the sixth. Merriwether started the scoring with a sacrifice fly to bring in Davis and then Soto scored on a play when Kyle Simms was caught stealing in a runners on first and third situation.
• Rogers State would then plate five runs in the top of the seventh, starting with a bunt single from Horn to score Harvey from third.
• With the bases loaded, Betcher and Horn scored on a fielder's choice groundout and a throwing error as Newman was trying to turn a double play.
• Simms then hit a single to left to score Davis to give the Hillcats a 15-4 lead.
• Merriwether capped the Hillcat runs with a RBI single to left to score Soto.
• Newman would score two runs courtesy of a pair of Hillcat errors in the bottom of the seventh, but it wasn't enough, as the Hillcats triggered the run-rule victory.

Game Notes

• Rogers State's 16 runs was tied for the second most on the season. RSU's 15 hits also tied for the third most of the season.
• Merriwether led the Hillcats with three hits in the game, as he went 3-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored.
• Davis joined Merriwether as the top RBI producers in the game as he had three on a 2-4 afternoon with a walk and two runs scored to go with his three RBIs.
• Betcher, Horn and Soto also had multi-hit games. Betcher was 2-3 with a walk, two RBIs and two runs. Horn was 2-4 with a walk two RBIs and a team high three runs.
• Soto matched Horn with a team high three runs scored, going 2-4 with a walk and a RBI.
• Bradshaw finished with two walks and was 1-3 at the plate with a triple.
• Rogers State outhit Newman 15-8 in the game and also drew nine walks while the Hillcat pitching staff gave up just two walks. The nine walks matched a season high.
• Brett Karalius earned his fourth win of the season after going six innings with four runs against. Karalius allowed seven hits and a walk with seven strikeouts.

Up Next
Rogers State will be back in action against the Jets on Sunday, completing the series with a doubleheader. First pitch in game two is set for 12:30 p.m. with game three to follow.