CLAREMORE, Okla. - Rogers State baseball (21-14, 11-12 MIAA) came up short 6-4 in a 10-inning thriller against Pittsburg State (28-7, 17-7 MIAA) to open the series on Friday.

The Gorillas got going early as they jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, starting the game off with five straight hits.

The Hillcats got a run back in the second as Ramon Torres launched a one-out, solo shot to right center to trim the deficit to 2-1.

Pitt State responded with a leadoff solo home run of their own in the third to go back up 3-1. They tacked on another run in the fifth to extend the advantage to 4-1.

Blake Nichols got in on the home run fun to lead off the home half of the fifth with a no-doubter to right to get within two runs at 4-2.

In the sixth inning, RSU used some timely hits to tie the game up at 4-4, pushing across two runs. Both Andrew Ramirez and Torres earned walks to put runners on first and second with one out. Nichols then loaded the bases with a single to shallow right field. Jackson Romero laced a ball into center field that plated both Ramirez and Torres.

Over the next three innings, both pitching staffs locked things down to force extra innings. Over that span, they combined to scatter one hit and leave three runners stranded.

In the top of the 10th, the Gorillas found a spark as they blasted a two-run shot to right to go back up 6-4. Unfortunately, the Hillcats went quietly in the bottom of the frame.

Cooper Crouch (2-1) earned win. Blake Johnson (0-1) took the loss but was excellent in relief over the final 4.0 innings, only allowing two runs on three hits with a strikeout.

RSU will look to even the series in game two tomorrow. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.