CLAREMORE, Okla. – Rogers State baseball (5-1) swept Southwest Baptist (3-3) in a doubleheader on a frigid Friday afternoon.
 
"Today, we played really well and really clean, considering the wind and cold temperatures," said head coach Chris Klimas. "We competed all day long. I told our guys they did a lot of good things today, but we still have a few things to work on as well. That's just part of the process. Overall, though, I was pleased with a lot of the things we did today."
 
GAME 1 – RSU 11, SBU 1 (8 Innings)
 
In the first game of the day, Luis Fuentes led a powerful Hillcat offense as he tied the single-game school record going 5-for-5 at the plate with three RBI and two runs scored.
 
However, the Bearcats got things started as they jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first. The run scored from second on a fielder's choice.
 
RSU answered with three runs in the bottom half of the frame to go up 3-1. Tyler Nelson led off the inning with a double to left field and moved to third on a Fuentes bunt base hit. Andrew Ramirez drove in Nelson with a single through the left side of the infield. Jackson Romero then cleared the bases with a single to center, scoring Fuentes and Ramirez.
 
After two scoreless innings, the Hillcats added two more runs in the fourth inning to push out to a 5-1 lead. Geovanni Blackshaw singled up the middle to start the frame and later stole second. Nelson blasted his second double of the day to left, bringing in Blackshaw. Fuentes later returned the favor as he plated Nelson with his own double to left center.
 
RSU tacked on another insurance run in the sixth to extend the lead to 6-1 as Nelson scored from second on a Fuentes single up the middle.
 
The Hillcats broke the game open in the eighth and secured the 11-1 win with five final runs. Weston Peninger got things started as he plated Jake Mitchell with a double to left field. Ramon Torres scored on a sacrifice fly from Nelson. Fuentes later struck again with a single to center that scored Peninger. Carson Cheatwood crossed home on a Ramirez single through the left side of the infield. Romero walked the game off with a single to third that allowed Fuentes to score.
 
Ky Decker (2-0) earned the win, working 6.0 innings and only allowing one run on three hits with eight strikeouts. Dylan Weddle was also excellent in relief with two shutout innings to close out the game, scattering one hit with a strikeout. Jaden Thacker (0-1) suffered the loss.
 
GAME 2 – RSU 5, SBU 1
 
Once again, Southwest Baptist jumped on the board first with another early 1-0 lead to start the second game. This time the run scored on a groundout to the pitcher with one out.
The Hillcat bats finally woke back up in the third inning as they pushed across two runs to take a 2-1 lead. With one out, Carson Cheatwood drew a four-pitch walk and then proceeded to steal second, ending up on third as a result of a throwing error by the catcher on the steal attempt. He then scored as the third baseman airmailed the throw home on a fielder's choice by Tyler Nelson. Luis Fuentes later plated Nelson with a single to left.
 
RSU added another run in the fourth to go up 3-1. Blake Nichols led off the frame with a single through the left side with Jackson Romero moving him to second with a sacrifice bunt. A Jake Mitchell single to left put runners on the corners. Geovanni Blackshaw then drove in Nichols with a sacrifice fly to right.
 
Rogers State took a 4-1 lead in the sixth as Blackshaw plated Romero from third on an infield single to second with no outs.
 
The Hillcats sealed the 5-1 win with a final run in the bottom of the eighth as Jake Mitchell scored from third on a wild pitch.
 
Colton Anderson (2-0) earned the win, working 6.0 innings and only allowing one run on four hits with six strikeouts. Christopher Spry and Blake Johnson were both outstanding out of the bullpen as the two combined for a hitless shutout over the final three innings, with each striking out one batter apiece. Ryan McClish (1-1) took the loss.
 
Pending weather, the Hillcats will be back in action on Tuesday, Feb. 18 as they play host to East Central in a non-conference mid-week matchup. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.