CLAREMORE, Okla. – Rogers State baseball (22-12, 10-11 MIAA) came away with a 10-9 win in a wild extra inning victory over Pittsburg State (24-11, 15-6 MIAA) to open the three-game series on Thursday.
 
The Gorillas wasted no time as they got on the board first with a two-run homer deposited over the right field fence.
 
The Hillcats responded in the home half of the frame to take a 3-2 lead. AJ Folds led off with a single through the left side of the infield. Prescott Horn then battled for a seven-pitch free pass that put runners at first and second with one out. Jesse Holguin came through as he plastered a ball to deep right center, bringing in both Folds and Horn. Jorge Martinez singled to third to put runners at the corners. Holguin later proceeded to steal home as Martinez was caught up in a rundown.
 
After three scoreless innings, Pitt State exploded for five runs in the top of the fifth to go back up 7-3. The first run scored on a RBI single to right. A RBI double down the left field line and a RBI single to center brought in two more runs. Another run scored on a throwing error by the catcher with the final runs coming in on a RBI single to second.
 
In the seventh inning, RSU cut into the deficit with three runs, trimming the margin to 7-6. Ramon Torres coaxed a seven-pitch walk to start the frame and then proceeded to take second on a wild pitch. Carson Cheatwood wore a 2-1 pitch to put runners at first and second with one out. Horn drove in Torres with a seeing-eye single up the middle. Holguin would then clear the bases as he laced a ball down the right field line to plate Cheatwood and Horn.
 
In the bottom of the ninth Cheatwood watched four pitches and took first to lead off the inning. Horn moved him over to second with a ground out back to the pitcher. A Holguin flyout to deep right field allowed Cheatwood to take third after tagging up. He then scored as the shortstop booted a ball and forced extra innings.
 
The Gorillas came roaring back in the top of the 10th as they pushed across two runs to retake a 9-7 lead. A RBI single to center brought in the first run with an error by the second baseman allowing the other run to score from second.
 
The Hillcats would not be denied though as Joel Escalante and Torres earned back-to-back walks to start the lower half of the 10th. Cheatwood loaded the bases as he poked a 0-2 pitch through the right side of the infield. Horn brought in both Escalante and Torres with a laser to right center. The pitcher took the bat out of Holguin's hands to reload the bases with one out. After a pitching change, Martinez was plunked with the first pitch he saw for a walk-off hit by pitch, scoring Cheatwood from third.
 
The reigning MIAA Pitcher of the Week, Nate Wolgemuth (2-1) earned the win coming in for the final inning, allowing one earned run on two hits with a strikeout. Dawson Pomeroy (0-1) suffered his first loss of the season.
 
The two teams will face off is the second game of the series tomorrow with first pitch set for 2 p.m.