ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Rogers State baseball (24-23, 14-19 MIAA) claimed the series win with a 11-7 victory over Missouri Western (19-27, 10-23 MIAA) in the regular season finale on Saturday.
 
The Hillcats got things started in what became a back-and-forth game with an early 1-0 lead in the first inning. Matthew Delgado drove in Matthew Schure with a RBI ground out to second.
 
The Griffons responded with two runs in the home half of the frame to jump in front 2-1. A two RBI single to short brought in the runs.
 
RSU answered back to tie things at 2-2 in the second as Ryan Tiger scored on an error by the third baseman.
 
Western pushed across three runs in the bottom of the inning to go back up 5-2. A RBI groundout to first followed by a single to center plated the first two runs, with a runner crossing home on a double steal for the third run.
 
The Hillcats exploded for four runs in the third to wrestle back control and take a 6-5 lead. Joel Escalante drove in Delgado with a single to left to get things rolling. Tiger then brought in Gabe Russell with a single to right. A bases loaded walk of Richie Ponce allowed Escalante to score from third. Jake Mitchell capped things off with a sacrifice fly to center that plated Tiger.
 
Once again, the Griffons tied things at 6-6 with a solo homer in the bottom of the third.
 
RSU retook the lead to stay in the fourth at 7-6 as AJ Folds came in on a sacrifice fly from Russell. They added an insurance run in the fifth with Ponce scoring on a RBI groundout by Schure.
 
Western tried to mount a comeback in the seventh, but could only get within one run at 8-7 thanks to a RBI single to left.
 
The Hillcats put the game away in the eighth as they scored three runs to set the final score at 11-7. Schure scored on a Folds RBI groundout to second to start things. Escalante later drove in Delgado with a single to left. Russell closed out the frame, crossing home on an error by the catcher.
 
Nate Wohlgemuth (2-6) earned the win with a 4.0 inning start with two strikeouts. Caleb Peterson (0-2) took the loss.
 
RSU will now wait for the remainder of the league's games to finish before learning their destination for the first round, best of three series in the MIAA Tournament beginning on Friday, May 3.