MARYVILLE, Mo. – An offensive explosion helped Rogers State baseball (26-20, 14-19 MIAA) to a 16-6 win over Northwest Missouri (13-34, 10-23 MIAA) in the regular season finale as they claimed the series on Sunday.
 
After a scoreless first inning, the Hillcats took an early 1-0 lead in the second off a solo shot from Geovanni Blackshaw that went soaring over the left field corner.
 
The game appeared to be devolving into a pitcher's duel as neither starter allowed a hit in the next two frames.
 
However, RSU added another run in the fifth as AJ Folds went yard to straightaway center to go up 2-0.
 
The Bearcats came alive in the home half of the fifth as they took their first lead after pushing across five runs to go up 5-2. A two-run bomb and a three-run homer accounted for the runs.
 
The Hillcats got a run back in sixth as Blackshaw scored from third on a 5-4-3 double play with no outs.
 
NWMSU responded with a run of their own in the bottom half with a base loaded walk to go back up 6-3.
 
RSU answered back with a vengeance as they exploded for seven runs in the seventh to retake the lead 9-6. Jesse Holguin got things started as he drove in Adler Isbell and Conner Womack with a single to right. Jhonmy Martinez then brought in Prescott Horn with a single to center. Holguin scored on an error by the pitcher. Back-to-back bases loaded walks scored both Jhonmy and Jorge Martinez to cap off the inning.
 
The Hillcats expanded their lead out to 12-6 in the eighth off a Blackshaw double to right center that plated Holguin and a two-run laser from Jhonmy Martinez over the right center field wall to scored Blackshaw.
 
The runs kept coming in the ninth as four more crossed home to seal the 16-6 win. Womack drove in Isbell with a single to center. Horn plated Folds with a single to right. A Holguin sacrifice fly to left brought in Womack, and a Jhonmy Martinez sacrifice fly to center scored Horn.
 
Dean Grisham (3-0) earned the win working the final 3.1 shutout innings while scattering three hits with three strikeouts. Jaxson Meyer (0-1) suffered the loss in his only decision of the season.
 
The Hillcats will be back in action as the No. 8-seed in the MIAA Tournament and face off against No. 1-seed Central Missouri in the first round best-of-three series in Warrensburg, Mo. beginning on Friday, May 5. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.