CLAREMORE, Okla. - Rogers State baseball (24-17, 14-15 MIAA) claimed the series but split the doubleheader with Missouri Western (13-27, 11-18 MIAA) on Friday.

GAME 1 - MWSU 4, RSU 3

After two scoreless frames to open the game, RSU broke the seal with an early 1-0 lead in the third. With two outs, Andrew Ramirez blasted a ball off the left field foul pole for his 11th round-tripper of the year, pushing the Hillcats' team total to 40 home runs for the most in a single season in the Division II Era and surpassing the 2017 team's 39.

However, the Griffons responded in the fourth to jump in front with a 2-1 lead thanks to back-to-back RBI singles.

The Hillcats retook the lead 3-2 in the fifth. Luis Fuentes dropped a ball into right field for a one-out single. Carson Cheatwood drove a ball up the middle and advanced to second on a throwing error by the center fielder to put runners in scoring position. Tyler Nelson plated both Fuentes and Cheatwood with his own two RBI single up the middle. 

In the top of the seventh, Western went ahead to stay as they secured the 4-3 win with a two-run homer off the scoreboard in left center.

Colby Deaver (3-5) earned the win. Colton Anderson (7-3) took the loss.

GAME 2 - RSU 8, MWSU 1

The second game started much in the same way as the first, with two scoreless innings to start. However, once again, the Hillcats struck first with a 2-0 lead in the third inning. Luis Fuentes laced a ball into left center for a one-out single. Carson Cheatwood followed suit to put two runners on. Tyler Nelson drove a ball through the right side of the infield to bring in Fuentes. Cheatwood scored on a suicide squeeze bunt by Andrew Ramirez.

Both starters locked things down over the next three frames as they combined to only give up three hits with seven runners left stranded.

RSU added two insurance runs in the seventh to go up 4-3. Jake Mitchell doubled down the left field line to get things started with one out. Fuentes brought him in with a single up the middle, and later advanced to second on a wild pitch. Nelson drove in Fuentes with a single to right center. 

The Hillcats broke the game open in the eighth as they doubled their lead with four more runs to take a 8-0 advantage. Weston Peninger and Blake Nichols led off the frame with back-to-back singles. Jackson Romero drew a four-pitch walk to load the bases. A wild pitch scored Peninger. Mitchell worked a seven-pitch walk to reload the bases. Fuentes drove a ball through the left side of the infield to score Nichols. Another wild pitch allowed Romero to cross home. Mitchell then scored on a Cheatwood groundout to short to cap off the frame.

The Griffons avoided the shutout with a solo home run in the ninth, but RSU still claimed the 8-1 victory.

Christopher Spry (5-3) picked up the win with an electric 6.0 inning, shutout start, scattering five hits with six strikeouts. Blake Johnson and Landon Riley were both excellent in relief as they combined for the final 3.0 innings, only allowing one run on one hit with a strikeout. Logan Winkleman (1-3) took the loss.

The Hillcats are back in action on Wednesday, April 23 as they hit the road for Fort Smith, Ark. to close out the mid-week series against Arkansas-Fort Smith. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.