CLAREMORE, Okla. – Skyler Nelson's two-run walk-off home run propelled Rogers State (11-11, 6-4 MIAA) to a 9-7 win in the 10th inning over Missouri Southern ((15-9, 6-4 MIAA) in the first game of the three-game mid-week series on Tuesday.
The Hillcats got on the board early as they took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Nelson got things started with a sacrifice fly that drove in Gavin Mestas. They added another run in the second as Prescott Horn scored from third on a sacrifice bunt from Victor Ceniceros.
The Lions tied things up at 2-2 in the top of the fourth on a two-run blast to right field. However, RSU responded with two more runs in the bottom half of the inning to push back out to 4-2. Kyle Simms scored on a RBI fielder's choice from Carson Cheatwood. Cheatwood later scored from third on a wild pitch.
MSSU got a run back in the top of the sixth to cut the deficit to 4-3. The run came in on a RBI double down the left field line.
The Hillcats pushed the lead back out to 5-3 with a run in the bottom of the seventh. Ethan Rivera scored from third on a failed pick off attempt of Horn at first base.
In the top of the eighth, the Lions took their first lead of the game on a three-run moon shot over the right field wall. They increased their lead to 7-5 with a run in the top of the ninth on a RBI fielder's choice.
Down two runs in the bottom of the ninth, Nelson singled through the left side of the infield to lead off the inning. Joel Escalante came in as a pinch hitter and singled through the right side of the infield to put runners at first and second with no outs. Horn was hit by a pitch during the next at-bat to load the bases. Cheatwood drove in Nelson with a RBI fielder's choice. Ceniceros forced the game to extra innings with a RBI single to right field that plated Conner Womack, who pinch ran for Escalante.
After RSU worked a 1-2-3 top of the 10th, Jesse Holguin singled through the right side of the infield to put the winning run on base. On the first pitch he saw, Skyler Nelson unloaded on a ball and sent it flying over the left field wall to walk-off the game. The Hillcats have now won back-to-back games in 10th inning walk-off fashion.
Jerry Davis (2-0) earned his second win after working the final 2.0 innings only allowing one hit and one run. Laif Hultine (1-2) took the loss.
RSU will be back in action on Friday, March 18 in St. Joseph, Mo. for a three-game series against Missouri Western as they begin an eight-game road trip. First pitch of game one is set for 3 p.m.
