Rogers State University Athletics

BETHANY, Okla. – Rogers State baseball (7-3) took down Southern Nazarene (3-8) in a 17-11 offensive explosion in non-conference, mid-week action on Tuesday.
 
The Hillcats wasted no time getting on the board with a 3-0 lead in the first inning. After AJ Folds earned a leadoff walk to start things, Ryan Tiger drove him in with a double to center. Geovanni Blackshaw returned the favor with a RBI single to left that plated Tiger. Blackshaw later crossed home himself on a Gabe Russell single to right.
 
They added three more runs in the top of the third to push out to a 6-0 lead. Richie Ponce brought in Logan Balfanz with a bases loaded walk. Jake Mitchell scored on a Folds single to right. Ramon Torres came home from third on an error by the pitcher during a failed pickoff attempt.
 
The Crimson Storm came alive in the bottom half as they put up eight runs to take their first lead at 8-6. Back-to-back bases loaded walk and hit by pitch plated the first two runs. Back-to-back singles to right and left, respectively, scored the next two runs. A grand slam to left center capped off the scoring.
 
RSU responded in the top of the fourth with two runs to tie things at 8-8. Ponce drove in both Russell and Mitchell with a double down the left field line.
 
SNU jumped back out to 9-8 lead with one run in the bottom of the frame. The run scored from third during a 4-3 double play.
 
The Hillcats retook the lead with two runs in the top of the fifth to go back up 10-9. Blackshaw unloaded on a pitch sending it over the left field wall for a two-run bomb, scoring Folds.
 
The Crimson Storm answered back in kind with a two-run shot of their own in the bottom of the fifth to take an 11-10 advantage.
 
In the top of the seventh, RSU pushed across two more runs to retake the lead for good at 12-11. Joel Escalante plated Folds with a single to right for the first run. Blackshaw then scored from second on a throwing error by the shortstop on a failed 4-6-3 double play.
 
They added three more insurance runs in the eighth inning to go up 15-11. Ponce scored from third on a wild pitch. Folds scored on an error by the shortstop. Matthew Schure crossed home on a Blackshaw single to center.
 
The Hillcats added two final runs in the top of the ninth to seal the 17-11 win. Mitchell launched a two-run blast to left, scoring Escalante.
 
Alek Trukki (2-0) earned the win, working 2.0 innings in relief scattering two hits without allowing a run with one strikeout. Nate Wohlgemuth put together a strong 2.0 inning start, only allowing one hit with no runs and two strikeouts. Landon Riley also threw a strong final 2.0 innings only allowing one hit with no runs and a strikeout. Zack Robinson (0-1) suffered the loss.
 
The Hillcats are back in action on Friday, Feb. 23 as they travel to Wichita, Kan. to begin MIAA play against Newman in a three-game series. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.