CLAREMORE, Okla. – Rogers State baseball (15-8, 4-7 MIAA) fell 15-12 in a high-scoring series opener against Missouri Western (5-14, 2-9 MIAA) on Friday.
 
Both starters worked a scoreless first inning to open the game, scattering one combined hit in the frame.
 
It was the Griffons who broke the stalemate in the second inning as they took an early 2-0 lead. Both runs came in on a two RBI double to left center.
 
The Hillcats responded with force as they put up five runs in the home half to go up 5-2. Joel Escalante led off the inning by reaching on an error by the second baseman. Mitchel Smith reached on an error by the third baseman. Carson Cheatwood earned a 3-1 walk to load the bases with no outs. Ramon Torres singled up the middle to plate both Escalante and Smith. Gavin Mestas was hit by a pitch to reload the bases. AJ Folds singled through the right of the infield to bring in Cheatwood. A wild pitch scored Torres. Prescott Horn scored Mestas with a sacrifice fly to center for the frame's final run.
 
MWSU got a run back in the top of the third to cut the deficit to 5-3. The run scored on a single to center.
 
The Griffons retook the lead 8-5 as they exploded for five runs in the fifth inning. A RBI single through the left side of the infield scored the first run with a grand slam shot over the right field wall plating the other four runs.
 
They added two more runs in the sixth to go up 10-5 lead. Back-to-back solo homers scored the runs.
 
RSU trimmed the lead to one run at 10-9 pushing across four runs in the bottom of the sixth. Torres reached on an error by the third baseman with one out. Mestas singled through the left side of the infield to put runners at first and second. Folds earned a 3-1 walk to load the bases. Horn plated both Torres and Mestas with a double to left center. Folds scored on a Jesse Holguin groundout to second. Jhonmy Martinez singled to third to bring in Horn.
 
MWSU answered back with three runs in the top of the second to push back out to a 13-9 advantage. A wild pitch scored a runner from third. Two RBI singles to left scored the other runs.
 
The Hillcats counterpunched with three runs of their own to bring the margin back to one run at 13-12. Cheatwood singled through the right side of the infield with one out. Torres single to right to put runners at first and second. Folds walked on four pitches to load the bases. Horn again doubled to center and cleared the bases.
 
The Griffons added two final runs in the top of the ninth to seal the 15-12 win.  Both runs scored on a fielding error by the third baseman with the bases loaded.
 
Zack Cushing (2-1) earned the win. Colton Anderson (2-1) took the loss.
 
RSU will look to rebound in the second game of the series tomorrow. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.