CLAREMORE, Okla. – Rogers State baseball (5-3) survived a late rally from McKendree (0-5) to claim the 7-6 victory and win the series on Saturday.
 
The Bearcats jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. A two-out, bases loaded walk brought in the first run with a wild pitch plating the other run.
 
The Hillcats responded with two runs on their own in the bottom half to tie things at 2-2. Ryan Tiger drove in both Geovanni Blackshaw and Matthew Delgado with a double to left field.
 
RSU added two more runs in the second inning to push out to a 4-2 lead. Richie Ponce crossed home on an AJ Folds double down the left field line. Joel Escalante returned the favor, scoring Folds with a single to right.
 
McKendree got a run back in the top of the third to cut the deficit to 4-3. A RBI double to left center brought in the run.
 
The Hillcats went back up 5-3 with a run in the bottom of the third. Ramon Torres singled through the left side of the infield allowing Jake Mitchell to come in from second.
 
RSU got two important insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth to extend the advantage to 7-3. Tiger launched his first homer as a Hillcat on a 1-2 pitch to left field. Ponce later plated Carson Cheatwood with a single through the left side of the infield.
 
The Bearcats began their comeback with a run in the top of the seventh to trim the lead to 7-4. The run scored from third on a throwing error by the pitcher on a fielder's choice. They added another run in the eighth as a run came home from third on a fielder's choice to get the runner at second.
 
McKendree led off the top of the ninth with a solo shot over the right field fence to get within one run at 7-6. However, Octavio Sanchez slammed the door with two-straight strikeouts and a fly out to center to secure the series victory.
 
Alek Trukki (0-1) earned his first win as a Hillcat throwing 3.0 innings in relief without allowing a hit or an earned run with three strikeouts. Sanchez (2) earned the save. Blake Johnson turned in a solid 4.0 inning start, only allowing one hit with no earned runs and five strikeouts. Trey Cole (0-1) suffered the loss.
 
The Hillcats will look for the sweep in tomorrow's series finale. First pitch is set for 12 p.m.