CLAREMORE, Okla. – Rogers State baseball (22-22, 14-15 MIAA) fell 14-5 to Washburn (28-18, 18-11 MIAA) in game two of the series on Friday.
The game began as a pitcher's duel with both starters not allowing a run for the first four innings. In those frames, the two sides scattered four total hits and left nine runners stranded.
The Ichabods broke the seal with a lead off home run to open the top of the fifth inning. They tacked on three more runs in the top of the sixth to go up 3-0. Both runs came in on a two RBI double to left center.
In the top of the seventh, Washburn broke the game open as they exploded for eight runs to take an 11-0 lead. After the first three batters of the inning reached safely, the Ichabods got things going with a grand slam that cleared the right field wall. They later drove in two runs with a single down the left field line. Another run came in on RBI double down the left field line. The final run of the frame crossed home on a throwing error by the catcher.
On the brink of being run-ruled, the Hillcats managed to scratch across their first two runs of the game to cut the deficit to 11-2 and keep the game going. Jonathan Soto got things started with a leadoff solo homer to left field. Carson Cheatwood later plated Skyler Nelson with a RBI fielder's choice.
Washburn responded in the top of the eighth adding a run to push back out to 12-2. The run came in on a RBI fielder's choice.
Once again, RSU got the two runs they needed to stay alive and trimmed the lead to 12-4. Marco Barrera crossed home on a fielding error by the shortstop. Rece Parker later scored on a throwing error by the center fielder on the relay to the plate.
However, the Ichabods again responded as they pushed the lead to 14-4 with a final two runs in the top of the ninth. The first run came on a RBI double to left center, with the other run scoring on a wild pitch.
The Hillcats managed to push across one last run in the bottom of the ninth to end the game 14-5. Andrew Howard scored on a RBI single from Soto.
Dalton Huggins (5-0) earned the win. Brett Karalius (2-2) took the loss.
The two teams will face off in the rubber match series finale tomorrow. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
