TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Rogers State baseball pulled of a monumental comeback to defeat Northeastern State 10-9 in the first game of the best-of-three quarterfinal series of the MIAA Tournament on Friday at Rousey Field.
 
Rogers State 10, Northeastern State 9
Records:  Rogers State (19-20)  |  Northeastern State (26-15)
W: Sean Craig (2-0)  |  L: Dakodah Jones (4-3)  |  S: Jordan Ewig (5)

How It Happened

• After a scoreless top of the first, Northeastern State took the lead in the bottom of the first as leadoff hitter Blaze Brothers hit a solo home run.
• The Hillcats would get runners on in the second, third and fourth, but stranded them each time. The Hillcats would then load the bases in the fifth, but were unable to find the equalizing run.
• In the bottom of the fifth, Northeastern State doubled their lead, taking advantage of an error to plate a run.
• The Hillcats would get another runner into scoring position in the sixth inning but stranded it a second. The RiverHawks would capitalize in the bottom half of the inning and score three runs on an RBI single and a two-run home run.
• Northeastern State made it 8-0 in the seventh inning, as the RiverHawks added three more runs on four hits.
• The Hillcats started their comeback in the top of the eighth inning with a pinch-hit single from Ethan Rivera. After singles from Prescott Horn and Brandon Bradshaw to load the bases, Skyler Nelson hit a two-RBI single to plate the first two Hillcat runs of the game.
• Kyle Simms then hit an RBI single, followed by a fielder's choice from Jonathan Soto that scored another run, cutting the NSU lead to 8-4.
• Christian Merriwether followed it up with a RBI single and the Hillcats added a sixth run in the inning on a double steal, as Soto stole home after Merriwether stole second.
• In the bottom of the eighth inning, the Hillcats escaped a bases loaded jam and then Rogers State plated four runs in the top of the ninth to take the lead.
• After a leadoff double from Horn, Bradshaw tripled to right center to cut the gap to one run.
• Nelson then brought in the tying run with a single to right field. Nelson would then score the go-ahead run for the Hillcats on a single to left field by Soto. With runners on first and third, Merriwether executed a safety squeeze to score pinch runner Erick Leef from third to make it 10-8.
• Northeastern State would get one run in the bottom of the ninth on a sacrifice fly with one out, but Jordan Ewig retired the final RiverHawk on a groundout to secure the win.

Game Notes

• The Hillcats take game one of the series, recording their first MIAA postseason win in their first opportunity. Rogers State needs just one win to eliminate Northeastern State and advance to the Championship Round next week in Joplin, Missouri.
• Bradshaw finished 4-for-5 at the plate with a triple, two runs scored and an RBI.
• Nelson finished with two hits and led the Hillcats with three RBIs in the game. Nelson scored two runs and also had a walk in his first game back after missing over a month due to injury.
• Horn also finished with two hits, including a double, and scored two runs in the game.
• Soto and Merriwether each finished with two hits and two RBIs in the game. Soto also scored a run.
• Simms joined five other Hillcats with multiple hits in the game. Simms had two hits and finished with a run and an RBI. After his second hit, Simms was pinch run for, with that place in the lineup scoring the winning run.
• Sean Craig picked up the win in relief, tossing two innings.
• Brett Karalius started the game for the Hillcats, allowing four earned runs in six innings with six strikeouts.

Up Next
Rogers State will return to action on Saturday as the Hillcats take on Northeastern State at 12 p.m. again at Rousey Field for game two of the series. If needed, game three of the series will also be played Saturday, scheduled for a 3 p.m. start.