CLAREMORE, Okla. – Rogers State baseball (18-14) took care of business 12-4 in a non-conference, mid-week game against Southeastern Oklahoma State (10-24) on Tuesday.
 
The Hillcats wasted no time getting on the board as they jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. After being hit by a pitch to lead off the frame, AJ Folds eventually scored on a throwing error by the catcher. Jake Mitchell then came in on a Geovanni Blackshaw groundout to third.
 
The Savage Storm responded in the top of the fourth with two runs of their own to tie things at 2-2. Back-to-back RBI singles to center and right field brought in the runs.
 
RSU retook the lead 4-2 in the bottom half. A Matthew Schure sacrifice fly to right plated Nolan Smith. Mitchell Smith then crossed home on a four-pitch, bases loaded walk of Folds.
 
Southeastern got a run back in the fifth to cut the deficit to 4-3 with a solo homer just over the left field wall.
 
The Hillcats again answered with two runs in the home half of the frame to go back up 6-3. Blackshaw drove in Joel Escalante with a double to right. Schure later scorched a worm burner down the left field line to plate Mitchell Smith with a double.
 
They added another run in the sixth to push out to a 7-3 advantage. Folds came in on Blackshaw fielder's choice to third.
 
The Savage Storm pushed across one more run in the top of the seven to pull within three runs at 7-4 thanks to a sacrifice fly to right.
 
However, RSU put the game away in the bottom of the seventh as Jake Mitchell unloaded on a 1-0 pitch sending it screaming over the left center field wall for a grand slam, plating Folds, Richie Ponce and Alex Dehzad. The Hillcats scored one final run in the eighth to seal the 12-4 win as Logan Balfanz scored on a Schure single up the middle.
 
Blake Johnson (2-2) earned the win, tossing 1.0 inning in relief and allowing one run on one hit with a strikeout. Nate Wohlgemuth also turned in a solid 4.0 inning start scattering six hits with no earned runs and five strikeouts. Andres De Leon, Landon Riley and Octavio Sanchez also had great showings out of the bullpen, combining for the final 4.0 innings and only allowing one run on three hits with five strikeouts. Brett Tanksley (2-4) took the loss.
 
The Hillcats will be back in action on Friday, April 5 as they welcome archrival Northeastern State to the Diamond Sports Complex to begin a three-game MIAA series. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.