EDMOND, Okla. – Rogers State baseball (21-17, 12-14 MIAA) used an offensive explosion to upset No. 18 Central Oklahoma (31-10, 17-9 MIAA) in a 14-7 game and even the series at a game apiece on Saturday.
 
With his three free passes in the game, Jake Mitchell broke the single season school record for walks with 40 base on balls, passing Randy Ramirez's record of 39 in 2012.
 
The Hillcats wasted no time getting down to business as they put up two runs in the first inning to take an early 2-0 lead. With one out, Matthew Schure came in from third on a wild pitch to score the game's first run. Joel Escalante then drove in AJ Folds with a sacrifice fly to left.
 
The Bronchos got a run back in the bottom half to cut the lead to 2-1 as the run scored on a throwing error by the third baseman.
 
RSU responded with another run to go back up 3-1 in the second. Folds plated Richie Ponce with a double to center.
 
UCO again answered back with a run in the home part of the second to pull back within one run at 3-2. A RBI double down the left field line brought in the run.
 
The Hillcats broke the game open in the third as they exploded for six runs for a 9-2 advantage. Gabe Russell got things started as he unloaded on a 1-2 pitch sending it screaming over the right field fence, scoring Escalante and Matthew Delgado. Later, a bases loaded walk of Jake Mitchell allowed Alex Dehzad to cross home. Schure followed right behind with a second bases loaded walk, this one to Delgado. Folds capped the frame off as he scored on a wild pitch.
 
A two-run homer to left by the Bronchos in the bottom half cut the deficit to 9-4. They continued to try and mount a comeback in the fourth but were only able to get three runs to trim the lead to 9-7 with a RBI double and two RBI singles.
 
RSU began to put the game away in the fifth as they answered with another run to go back up 10-7 with Schure scoring on a 4-6-3 double play.
 
In the seventh, the Hillcats pushed across three more runs to take a 13-7 lead. Both Ponce and Schure came in on back-to-back bases loaded walks. Russell drove in Folds with a sacrifice fly left center.
 
They added a final run in the ninth to seal the 14-7 win, with Mitchell scoring on a throwing error by the first baseman.
 
Andres De Leon (3-1) earned the win after working 6.0 shutout innings in relief, only allowing one hit with four strikeouts. Brett Pense (4-4) took the loss.
 
RSU will look to claim the series in the final game of the road trip tomorrow. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.