CLAREMORE, Okla. – Rogers State baseball (22-13. 10-12 MIAA) could not match Pittsburg State's (25-11, 16-6 MIAA) late rally as the Gorillas evened the series with a 14-10 series.
 
PSU got on the board first with two runs in the top of the first. They opened the game with three straight hits, including a two RBI double down the left field line.
 
The Hillcats matched them in home half of the frame to knot things at 2-2. AJ Folds led off with a double to left. Carson Cheatwood followed it up with a full count walk. Prescott Horn plated Folds with a RBI double. Jorge Martinez brought in Cheatwood as he grounded out to the second baseman.
 
RSU took a 3-2 lead in the second as they added a run. Joel Escalante singled to center to start things. Jake Mitchell moved Escalante to second with a sacrifice bunt. Ramon Torres plated Escalante with a single to center.
 
The Gorillas tied things back at 3-3 with a one-out solo home run in the third. They then retook the lead 4-3 with another solo shot in the top of the fifth.
 
The Hillcats responded in the bottom half by exploding for six runs. Gavin Mestas doubled down the left field line to lead off the inning. Mitchell was then hit by a pitch with one out. Torres drew a 3-1 free pass to load the bases. Folds wore a 1-0 pitch to score Mestas. Cheatwood drove a two RBI single into left center, bringing in Mitchell and Torres. Jesse Holguin plated Folds with a single to second. Mestas reached again on a dropped third strike wild pitch that brought in Cheatwood. Horn then scored on a second wild pitch.
 
Pitt State answered back with five runs in the top of the sixth to tie things again at 9-9. Two RBI singles scored the first two runs. With two outs, Folds collided with the wall on a laser to straightaway center that scored three runs on an inside the park home run.
 
The Gorillas added to their with two more runs in the top of the seventh to go up 11-9. Both runs came in on a single to right.
 
They tacked on another run in the eighth on fly out to left to take a 12-9 advantage.
 
PSU pushed across two final runs in the top of the ninth to take a 14-9 margin.
 
The Hillcats couldn't complete the comeback but were able to a run the bottom of the ninth to seal the game at 14-10. Horn led off the frame with a double down the left field line. Martinez brought him in with a single to center.
 
Boston Dowd (1-0) earned the win. Tyler Hankins (2-2) took the loss.
 
The Hillcats will attempt to claim the series in rubber match tomorrow. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.