JOPLIN, Mo. – Rogers State Baseball picked up a key doubleheader split with Missouri Southern on Friday to secure the No. 7 seed in the MIAA Tournament next week.
 
GAME ONE
Rogers State 6, Missouri Southern 12
Records:  Rogers State (17-19, 13-18 MIAA)  |  Washburn (28-10, 21-10 MIAA)
W: Zach Parish (10-1)  |  L: Brett Karalius (5-5)

How It Happened

• The Lions took a commanding lead in the bottom of the first inning, scoring 11 runs. Missouri Southern started the scoring with a solo home run and then seven runs on singles and doubels before a three-run home run capped off the inning.
• Rogers State plated its first run in the third inning on a ball in play by Mason Harvey that resulted in a throwing error. Christian Merriwether scored on the play.
• The Hillcats would add its next run on a single by Jonathan Soto in the sixth inning, scoring Brandon Bradshaw.
• In the seventh inning, Prescott Horn had an RBI double and Jerry Davis had an RBI single, scoring Ethan Rivera and Horn, respectively.
• After a run in the seven from Missouri Southern, the final run of the game came from the Hillcats as Merriwether tripled to left center, bringing around Chandler Suddath and Davis.

Game Notes

• Davis and Merriwether led the Hillcats with three hits. Davis went 3-for-5 at the plate. He finished with one RBI and one run scored.
• Merriwether was also 3-for-5 at the plate with two RBIs and a run scored. Merriwether had a triple and a double.
• Harvey was the only other Hillcat with multiple hits, going 2-for-5 with an RBI.
• Leonardo Castro pitched 4.1 innings of relief, allowing just one run with six strikeouts.

GAME TWO
Rogers State 7, Missouri Southern 2
Records:  Rogers State (18-19, 14-18 MIAA)  |  Washburn (28-11, 21-11 MIAA)
W: Brent Dickey (1-0)  |  L: Ryan Paschal (1-1)

How It Happened

• An RBI single to right field from Kyle Simms would send in Davis for the game's first run in the second inning.
• Later in the second, Merriwether would score the second run of the game after Harvey hit an RBI single to center field.
• The Lions would respond with a run of their own in the bottom of the second to cut into the Hillcat lead.
• Missouri Southern would tie things up at 2-2 in the fourth with an RBI single to center field.
• Davis and Bradshaw would score a pair of runs to start off the eighth, after Davin Kapuras hit a two-RBI ground-rule double to left field.
• Later in the eighth inning, Merriwether would hit a two-RBI double to left center to score pinch runner Erick Leef and Jonothan Soto for two more runs.
• The final run of the inning and game came after Merriwether scored off of an RBI single from Victor Ceniceros to give the Hillcats their seventh run.

Game Notes

• Davis finished 2-for-5 from the plate in game two, with a pair of runs scored.
• Merriwether finished 1-for-3 from the plate, with two runs scored and two RBIs.
• Bradshaw, Soto, and Leef also compiled runs in the contest.
• Harvey, Sims, and Ceniceros each had an RBI in the game,
• Dickey picked up his first career win at Rogers State, as he had two strikeouts and allowed two hits in five innings pitched in relief.
• Sean Craig had a game high four strikeouts on the mound.
• Roger State out hit Missouri Southern 9-6.

Up Next
Rogers State will look to win the series, as they wrap up the weekend with game three of the series against Missouri Southern on Saturday in Joplin. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at the Warren Turner Field.