JOPLIN, Mo. – Rogers State baseball closed the 2021 regular season on Saturday with a 10-4 loss on the road to Missouri Southern.
 
Rogers State 4, Missouri Southern 10
Records:  Rogers State (18-20, 14-19 MIAA)  |  Washburn (29-11, 22-11 MIAA)
W: Logan VanWey (2-0)  |  L: Jordan Ewig (2-2)

How It Happened

• Both teams would get early base runners on in the first three innings, but the Hillcats hit into multiple double plays and Missouri Southern failed in their chances to get runs across as the game remained scoreless into the fourth.
• The hosts took the lead in the fourth with a pair of runs. After getting two runners on, a single brought in the games first run. A sacrifice fly then doubled Missouri Southern's lead.
• The Hillcats responded in the top of the fifth, getting Jonathan Soto to third, where he scored on a balk.
• Missouri Southern would restore their two-run lead in the bottom of the fifth after a double with two runners on plated one run.
• However, the Hillcats took the lead in the sixth inning. Brandon Bradshaw brought in the first run of the inning with a single through the right side, scoring Mason Harvey from third.
• In the next at bat, Jerry Davis reached on a throwing error, but produced an RBI anyway, as Horn scored from third.
• With runners on the corners, Soto then brought around Bradshaw with a bunt single to the right side between the pitcher and the first and second basemen, giving the Hillcats their first lead of the game at 4-3.
• After both teams went scoreless in their next half innings, the Lions took the lead in the bottom of the seventh. A solo home run to lead off the inning tied the game. Later in the inning a two-out single put the Lions back in front.
• With a 5-4 lead, the Lions tacked on five runs in the bottom of the eighth to seal the victory. A bunt single with runners on the corners scored the first run. A two-RBI double followed in the next at bat and an inside the park home run capped the scoring two batters later.

Game Notes

• Harvey led the Hillcats offensively, going 4-for-5 on the day. Harvey had a double and recorded a stolen base and a run.
• Bradshaw also reached safely four times, as he finished 3-for-4 in the game and also had a hit by pitch. Bradshaw also had a double and recorded an RBI and a run scored.
• Soto and Christian Merriwether also recorded multiple hits on the day. Both went 2-for-4. Soto had an RBI and a run, while Merriwether had a stolen base.
• Corey Murphy went six innings in the start, allowing three runs on seven hits in a no decision. Murphy finished with four strikeouts.
• Missouri Southern out hit the Hillcats 16-14 in the contest.
• Rogers State dropped its second-straight rubber match in MIAA play, falling 1-2 in the last two series. Rogers State won four MIAA series on the season.

Up Next
Rogers State will stay in Oklahoma for the first round of the MIAA Tournament, making the short trip to Tahlequah to take on Northeastern State in a Best-of-3 series in the Quarterfinal Round. The Hillcats will open up the quarterfinal series on May 14 at 2 p.m. against the RiverHawks.