CLAREMORE, Okla. – Rogers State baseball (16-11, 8-8 MIAA) claimed the series but split the doubleheader against Northwest Missouri (12-17, 4-12 MIAA) on Saturday.
 
GAME 1 – RSU 8, NWMSU 3
 
The first game of the day looked to be a pitcher's duel as neither starter allowed a run in the first two innings. Colton Anderson scattered two hits and left two Bearcats stranded in that span. Likewise, Casey Stalzer scattered three hits with all three Hillcats left stranded.
 
Northwest broke the stalemate in the third inning as they took an early 1-0 lead. The run scored from second on a single through the left side of the infield.
 
RSU responded in the bottom half to tie things at 1-1. With one out, Jake Mitchell earned a seven-pitch walk and then stole second. He came in from second on a fielding error by the second baseman.
 
The Hillcats then broke the game open with three runs in the fourth to take a 4-1 lead. A bases loaded walk brought in Alex Dehzad from third. Joel Escalante then drove in Matthew Schure and AJ Folds with a single through the right side of the infield.
 
The Bearcats got a run back in the top of the fifth to cut the deficit to 4-2. A single up the middle scored the run.
 
RSU answered with three more runs in the bottom of the frame to push out to a 7-2 advantage. Geovanni Blackshaw got things started as he scored from second on a throwing error by the pitcher on a sacrifice bunt attempt. Schure later plated both Dehzad and Ryan Tiger with a single up the middle.
 
They added one final run in the six to take an 8-2 margin. Tiger singled to left, allowing Escalante to cross home.
 
Northwest Missouri got one more run in the seventh to set the final score at 8-3 with a RBI single to left center.
 
Anderson (3-3) earned the win with a 5.0 inning start, only allowing one earned run on four hits with two strikeouts. Noah Anderson and Quinn Tocheniuk were also solid in relief as they combined for the final 4.0 innings with one run on three hits with two strikeouts. Stalzer (3-3) took the loss.
 
GAME 2 – NWMSU 11, RSU 9
 
The Bearcats wasted no time jumping on the board in the second game as they dashed out to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning. A single to left scored the first run with a two RBI single up the middle bringing in the other runs.
 
RSU responded in the bottom half with two runs to cut the deficit to 3-2. AJ Folds scored on a RBI groundout to second from Matthew Delgado. Nolan Smith later drove in Jake Mitchell with a double to left.
 
Northwest added another run in the third to push back out to a 4-2 lead. The run scored on a triple to right.
 
The Hillcats exploded for five runs in the bottom of the frame to take a 7-4 lead. Joel Escalante got things started as he plated Folds with a single through the right side of the infield. Delgado then drove in Mitchell with his own single through the right side. Escalante and Delgado later came in on two separate wild pitches. Matthew Schure capped things off with a singled through the left side of the infield that scored Ryan Tiger.
 
The Bearcats tied the game back at 7-7 with three runs in the top of the fourth. Three separate singles to right scored all three runs.
 
RSU answered back in the bottom half as they jumped back in front 8-4. Smith scored from third on a wild pitch.
 
They added another run in the fifth to push out to a 9-7 margin. A bases loaded walk to Schure brought in Delgado.
 
Again, Northwest tied the game at 9-9 with two runs in the top of the sixth. A single through the right side of the infield scored both runs.
 
In the top of the ninth, the Bearcats were able to push across two runs to steal the 11-9 win. The go ahead run came in from second on a throwing error by the shortstop. A double to left plated the final run.
 
Jacob Gajic (2-3) earned the win. Octavio Sanchez (0-1) took the loss allowing two hits and no earned runs with two strikeouts.
 
The Hillcats will be back in action on Tuesday, March 26 as they travel to Joplin, Mo. for game two of the MIAA mid-week series against No. 8 Missouri Southern. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.