CLAREMORE, Okla. – Rogers State baseball (10-11, 5-4 MIAA) got the series sweep by taking both games of the series finale doubleheader against Fort Hays State (2-19, 1-8 MIAA) on Sunday.
GAME ONE - RSU 4, FHSU 1
The first game was a true pitcher's duel after the Hillcats took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Kyle Simms brought in Jonathan Soto with a RBI single through the right side of the infield.
Both starters worked the next four innings without giving up a run until the Tigers tied things up at 1-1 in the top of the fifth. The run came across on a RBI double to center field.
RSU put the game away with three runs in the bottom of the seventh to push out to a 4-1 advantage. Marco Barrera plated Prescott Horn with a RBI single through the right side of the infield. Barrera and Victor Ceniceros crossed home on a two RBI single to left center from Soto.
Brett Karalius was excellent on the mound as he worked 6.0 innings with seven strikeouts and only one run. However, Brent Dickey (1-1) earned the win out of the bullpen with 2.0 innings and four punch outs with Octavio Sanchez (3) earning the save with a perfect ninth inning. FHSU's Hunter Parker (0-4) took the loss.
GAME TWO - RSU 11, FHSU 10
The Tigers struck first in the second game with an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first. The run scored on a RBI groundout to second.
The Hillcats answered back in the bottom of the second to tie things 1-1. Kyle Simms came in on a RBI groundout to second by Carson Cheatwood.
FHSU reclaimed the lead 3-1 in the top of the third with two runs on a two RBI single to short with the bases loaded and two outs.
RSU drove in three runs in the bottom of the fourth to take their first lead at 4-3. Prescott Horn brought in Skyler Nelson with a RBI single through the left side of the infield. Simms stole home on a strikeout. Horn crossed home on a Victor Ceniceros RBI single down the left field line.
The Tigers responded with two runs in the top of the fifth to retake the advantage 5-4. The first run came on a leadoff solo homer to left field, with the other run scoring on a bases loaded hit by pitch. The Hillcats tied it again at 5-5 in the home half of the inning as Nelson plated Gavin Mestas with a sacrifice fly to left.
FHSU pushed out to 6-5 with a run in the top of the sixth on a RBI single through the right side of the infield. However, RSU again got the run back in the bottom half to keep things tied 6-6 as Cheatwood scored on a wild pitch.
The Tigers exploded for four runs in the top of the seventh to go up 10-6. The first run came in on a deep sacrifice fly to right. The other three runs scored on throwing errors by both the third baseman and right fielder on the same play with the bases loaded.
Down four runs in the bottom of the ninth, the Hillcats rallied with four runs of their own to send the game to extra innings knotted at 10-10. Mestas and Marco Barrera came in on a fielding error by the shortstop. Jesse Holguin and Jonathan Soto crossed home on a two RBI, pinch hit double down the left field line by Joel Escalante.
After sitting down FHSU in order in the top half, Mestas earned a leadoff walk to start the bottom of the 10th. Soto moved him over with a sacrifice bunt in the next at bat. Holguin secured the walk-off series sweep with a RBI double just over the centerfielder's head after fouling off three straight pitches to bring in Mestas for the win.
Zaccary Whisler (1-0) earned his first decision of the season after working the final two innings without giving up a hit and striking out one batter. Cole Zimmerman (0-2) took the loss.
RSU will be back in action on Tuesday, March 15 as they welcome Missouri Southern to the Diamond Sports Complex for the first game of the MIAA mid-week series. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.
