CLAREMORE, Okla. – Rogers State baseball (16-15, 10-8 MIAA) took game one the three-game series 9-7 against Emporia State (11-20, 5-13 MIAA) on Friday.

The Hornets got on the board first with an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. The first run came in on RBI single up the middle with the other run coming on a RBI groundout.

RSU tied it up in the bottom half of the first. Skyler Nelson drove in Gavin Mestas with a RBI single. Jesse Holguin crossed as he stole home as part of a double steal.

ESU retook the the lead 4-3 in the top of the fourth on a RBI groundout to the shortstop. They added two more runs in the fifth on a two RBI double to right to push out to 5-2.

The Hillcats cut the deficit to 5-4 in the bottom of the sixth as they scratched across two runs. Rece Parker plated Joel Escalante with a RBI groundout to third. Prescott Horn scored on a sacrifice fly to center from Marco Barerra.

RSU then proceed to explode for five runs in the bottom of the seventh to take their first lead 9-5. Holguin came in on a RBI bases loaded walk of Parker. Connor Womack brought in Nelson and Carson Cheatwood with a two RBI single up the middle. Barrera scored Horn and Womack with a two RBI double to left center.

The Hornets got two runs back in the bottom of the eight to trim the lead to 9-7 with both runs crossing on a two RBI single up the middle.

Boone Lasaster (2-1) earned the win working 1.1 innings without giving up a hit. Peyton Carson (1-5) took the loss.

The Hillcats will look to clinch the series in game two tomorrow. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.