JOPLIN, Mo. – Rogers State baseball dropped it's opening game of the MIAA Tournament on Thursday, as the Hillcats fell to Central Oklahoma to head to the elimination bracket.
Rogers State 6, Central Oklahoma 19
Records: Rogers State (20-21) | Central Oklahoma (25-19)
W: Luke Anderson (6-5) |
L: Brett Karalius (5-6)
How It Happened
- The Hillcats would take an early lead as Skyler Nelson worked a bases loaded walk for the opening run of the game in the top of the first, bringing in Mason Harvey, who led off the game with a single.
- Jonathan Soto would then hit a sacrifice fly to double the Hillcats lead to 2-0, as Ethan Rivera scored.
- However, Central Oklahoma responded with six runs in the bottom of the first and six more runs in the bottom of the second, capitalizing on five errors in the two innings combined.
- After Central Oklahoma added another run in the third, the Hillcats got the offense going again with two runs in the top of the fourth. Christian Merriwether brought in the first run with a double to center, scoring Soto.
- Victor Ceniceros would add RSU's fourth run of the game with a sacrifice fly later in the inning, scoring Kyle Simms.
- Central Oklahoma would add another run in the fourth and then scored five runs in the sixth inning.
- After a single by Harvey to lead off the seventh and a pinch hit double from Seth Gerardy, Erick Leef and Brandon Bradshaw hit back-to-back RBI ground outs to score Harvey and Gerardy for the final runs of the game.
Game Notes
- Rogers State's five errors matched a season high, tying five errors against Minot State in the fourth game of the season.
- Harvey and Merriwether led the Hillcats with two hits each. Merriwether was 2-for-2 with double, a walk, and an RBI. Harvey finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
- Prescott Horn and Gerardy had the other extra-base hits, as both had a double.
- Bradshaw led the Hillcats with two of the teams five walks. Nelson and Soto had the other walks for RSU.
- Brett Karalius picked up the loss, allowing nine runs, six earned on four hits and five walks.
Up Next
Rogers State will look to fight off elimination on Friday as the Hillcats take on Pittsburg State at 3 p.m. in the first elimination game of the weekend. If the Hillcats win, they will have another elimination game 1t 7 p.m. with the winner advancing to Saturday's MIAA Championship Game.
