CLAREMORE, Okla. - Rogers State baseball (23-16, 13-14 MIAA) rolled to a 12-2 win over Missouri Western (12-26, 10-17 MIAA) in seven innings to open the three-game series on Thursday.

The game looked to be a pitchers' duel early on as neither starter allowed a run in the first four innings. In fact, they combined to scatter only three hits and left five runners stranded in that span. 

The Hillcats broke things open in the fifth as they exploded for six runs to jump out to a 6-0 lead. A full count walk of Jake Mitchell with Luis Fuentes wearing a pitch put runners at first and second with no outs. Carson Cheatwood moved them into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Facing a 0-2 count, Tyler Nelson drove a ball into the gap in right center to bring in Mitchell and Fuentes. Andrew Ramirez then plated Nelson with a single through the left side of the infield. Weston Peninger launched a towering two-run moon shot to left center, scoring Ramirez. Ramon Torres capped off the frame as he drove in Jackson Romero with a double down the left field line.

The Griffons were able to scratch across two runs in the top of the seventh to cut the deficit to 6-2 with a two-RBI single through the right side of the infield. 

In the home half of the inning, RSU struck again with another big inning. A leadoff single up the middle by Blake Nichols followed by back-to-back hit by pitches of Romero and Torres loaded the bases. Mitchell worked a four-pitch walk to score Nichols. After two strikeouts, Nelson and Ramirez both earned bases-loaded walks to score Romero and Torres. Peninger came up big again as he laced a ball to right field that brought in Mitchell and Nelson. On the first pitch he saw, Nichols blasted a walk-off double down the right field line, plating Peninger for the 12-2 victory.

Ky Decker (6-2) earned the win after a strong 6.2 inning start, only allowing two runs on six hits with three strikeouts. Ricardo Landeros (1) picked up the save, coming in to make the final out in the seventh inning. 

The Hillcats will close out the series tomorrow with a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 12 p.m.