WARRENSBURG, Mo. – Rogers State baseball (15-12, 9-5 MIAA) fell 13-5 in the series opener to No. 6 Central Missouri (20-2, 14-0 MIAA) on Friday.

The Mules wasted no time getting things started as they sprinted out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning. The first run of the game came on a RBI sacrifice bunt with the bases loaded. Three RBI singles brought in the other runs.

The Hillcats got a run back in the top of the second to trim the deficit to 4-1. Skyler Nelson crossed home on a RBI fielder's choice from Prescott Horn.

UCM added a run in the bottom of the third to push back out to 5-1 with a leadoff home run over the left center field wall fence.

RSU answered with a run of their own in the top of the fourth to cut the lead to 5-2. Jesse Holguin scored on a sacrifice fly from Joel Escalante. They added two more runs in the top of the fifth to pull within one run at 5-4. Holguin drove in both Jonathan Soto and Gavin Mestas with a two RBI triple to right.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Mules busted the game open as they exploded for seven runs and went up 12-4. The first run came on a RBI bunt single. Back-to-back RBI singles pushed across the next two runs. A two RBI double to left center scored two more. The final two runs came in on back-to-back sacrifice flies.

The Hillcats got one more run in the top of the eighth to cut the deficit to 12-5. Marco Barrera plated Ethan Rivera with a RBI single to second. However, UCM would also added a final run in the bottom half to seal the 13-5 win on an inside the park home run.

Collin Jones (5-0) earned the win. Nathan Chase (1-2) took the loss.

The two team will face off in game two of the series tomorrow. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.