MARYVILLE, Mo.  - Rogers State baseball (19-9, 9-7 MIAA) clinched the road series with a doubleheader sweep of Northwest Missouri (13-16, 7-9 MIAA) on Friday.

"Winning on the road is extremely difficult to do, but our pitchers showed up in a big way today," said head coach Chris Kilmas. "Ky Decker was really sharp and efficient in the first game. Colton Anderson gave us a really gutsy effort on short rest in the second game. Blake Johnson and Landon Riley were also excellent in high-leverage situations on the back end, and that's what it takes to win in this league. Overall, I'm proud of the way that the guys showed up and played in some really difficult conditions today. We have a great opportunity tomorrow, and we need to show up ready to go to make it a great weekend."

GAME 1 - RSU 11, NWMSU 0 (7 innings)

After two scoreless innings to start, RSU jumped on the board in the top of the third inning when Andres Contreras hit an RBI double to left field, bringing in Carson Cheatwood. In the fourth inning, the Hillcats tacked on another run to go up 2-0 when Jake Mitchell stole home as part of a double steal. 

RSU broke the game open in the fifth, scoring seven runs and extending the advantage out to 9-0. Tyler Nelson scored from third off an error by the pitcher. Ramon Torres drove in Jake Mitchell and Weston Peninger as he reached on an error by the third baseman. Contreras capped off the frame as he blasted a grand slam, scoring Cheatwood, Torres and Mitchell.

Luis Fuentes added another run in the sixth with an RBI single to left field, allowing Torres to score and giving RSU a 10-0 lead. The Hillcats pushed across one final run in the top of the seventh inning as Peninger launched a solo shot.

Ky Decker (4-2) earned the complete game shutout, scattering four hits with eight strikeouts. Ben Huag (2-3) took the loss.

GAME 2 - RSU 7, NWMSU 4

The Hillcat bats stayed hot in the second game, exploding for six runs in the first inning. Ramirez dropped a two-run bomb, allowing  Tyler Nelson to score. Mitchell Smith laced an RBI single to right center, plating Jackson Romero. Fuentes followed it up with a three-run round-tripper, bringing in Smith and Jake Mitchell. 

RSU added a run in the second to go up 7-0 with Ramirez blasting a triple down the right field line, bringing in Nelson.

The Bearcats got run back in the bottom of the third to cut the deficit to 7-1. They continued to attempt a comeback in the seventh, but were only able to scratch across three more runs and gave the Hillcats the 7-4 victory.

Colton Anderson (6-1) picked up the win after a 6.0 inning start that saw him allow three earned runs on six hits with five strikeouts. Landon Riley (3) earned the save, working the final 2.0 innings in relief and scattered one hit with a strikeout. Blake Johnson was also solid in an inning of work out of the bullpen with a strikeout. George Fisher (0-3) took the loss.

RSU will go for the series sweep tomorrow. First pitch is set for noon.