CLAREMORE, Okla. – Rogers State baseball (2-0) took a 10-6 win in the home opener against Upper Iowa (0-1) in game one of the series on Friday.
 
"That was a hard fought win," said head coach Chris Klimas. "Give Upper Iowa credit, they are a really tough team. We had to do some things really well and had to have some guys step up in big situations. I though Ky Decker was really good on the mound. I thought we did a really good job on offense grinding it out in those first couple of innings. If you can get to another team's bullpen early and sit down a starter, especially one as good their starter, you are going to have some opportunities."
 
The game looked to be a pitcher's duel early on as both starting pitchers combined to only allow four hits through the first four innings and left seven runners stranded.
 
The Hillcats finally broke through in the bottom of the fifth with three runs. Luis Fuentes got this started with a one out single down the left field line. After Jackson Romero was hit by a pitch, Andrew Ramirez drove in Fuentes with a single up the middle. Romero later scored from third on a wild pitch. Geovanni Blackshaw plated Ramirez with a single through the left side of the infield.
 
The Peacocks responded in the top of the sixth with their own big inning, pushing across four runs to go up 4-3. A single through the right side of the infield brought in the two runs with a single up the middle scoring the other two runs.
 
RSU answered back in the bottom half of the frame with their own four run inning to jump back in front 7-4. Carson Cheatwood led off, earning a nine-pitch walk. Tyler Nelson moved him over as he reached on a fielder's choice to third. Romero drove in Cheatwood with a single through the left side of the infield to tie things. With two outs and a 2-0 count, Jake Mitchell unloaded on a pitch and sent it screaming over the left field wall for a three-run blast, scoring Romero and Ramirez.
 
The Hillcats tacked on another run in the bottom of the seventh to push out to a 8-4 advantage as Royce Tsumura scored from third on a wild pitch.
 
They added two final runs in the bottom of the eighth for a 10-4 lead. After UIU walked the bases full, Weston Peninger plated Mitchell with a fielder's choice to first base. Andres Contreras later scored from third on a wild pitch.
 
The Peacocks tried to mount a comeback in the top of the ninth with two outs as they launched a two-run blast to left, but groundout to the first baseman secured the 10-6 win for the Hillcats.
 
Ky Decker (1-0) earned the win, working 5.2 innings and allowing four runs on six hits with four strikeouts. Blake Johnson (1) earned the save, throwing the final 3.1 innings and only allowing two runs on two hits with six strikeouts. Marcus Champagne (0-1) suffered the loss.
 
RSU will look to claim the series tomorrow as the two teams face off in a doubleheader to close out the weekend. First pitch is set for 11 a.m.