CLAREMORE, Okla. – No. 21 Rogers State baseball (11-3) moved to 8-0 at home this season as they claimed an exciting 7-6 win over Northwestern Oklahoma State (8-8) in walk-off fashion on Tuesday.
 
After both starters worked a scoreless frame to start the game, the Riders got on the board first with two runs in the second inning. The first run scored on a RBI single up the middle, with the second run scoring on an infield single to shortstop.
 
The Hillcats tied it up with two runs of their own in the bottom of the third. Gavin Mestas led off the inning with a double to right center. A Joel Escalante fly out to center moved him over to third with one out. Prescott Horn was hit by a pitch to put runners at the corners, and then proceeded to steal second with two outs. Jhonmy Martinez cleared the bases with a two RBI single to left that plated both Mestas and Horn.
 
NWOSU jumped back in front with three runs in the top of the fourth to go up 5-2. A sacrifice fly to right brought in the first run, with a two-run homer over the left centerfield wall scoring the other two.
 
RSU got a run back in the bottom of the fifth to cut the deficit to 5-3. Horn was hit for the second time to put a runner on and then moved to second as Jesse Holguin grounded out to first. Martinez came through again as he doubled to deep center to score Horn.
 
The Hillcats tied the game again at 5-5 in the bottom of the sixth with two more runs. Ethan Rivera earned a full count walk with one out. On a 1-1 pitch, Mestas launched a two-run blast into the bleachers in left field to plate Rivera, his fifth homer of the young season.
 
RSU retook the lead 6-5 in the seventh with one run. Holguin singled to right to get things started. Martinez moved him to second with a 3-1 walk. Carson Cheatwood put runners on the corners with two outs after reaching on a fielder's choice, and then stole second. Holguin scored on a wild pitch as Bennett Henderson earned a walk.
 
The Rangers were not done though as they tied the game up one final time at 6-6 with a run in the top of the ninth with one out. A sacrifice fly to right scored the run and forced the home team to bat in the bottom half of the inning.
 
In the home half of the frame, Horn lasered a double down the left field line to start things off. With an open base available, Holguin was walked on four pitches. Martinez reached on a fielder's choice, moving Horn to third with one out. AJ Folds was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. After working a seven pitch at-bat, Cheatwood watched the fourth ball to walk off NWOSU with a 7-6 win.
 
Tyler Hankins (1-0) earned the win after coming from the bullpen to get the final out of the ninth with a strikeout. Connor Gibson (0-1) suffered his first loss of the season.
 
The Hillcats will be back in action at the Diamond Sports Complex on Friday, March 3 for the MIAA home opener as they open a three-game series with No. 13 Central Oklahoma. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.