JOPLIN, MO - Rogers State baseball (26-17, 16-15 MIAA) won the first game of the series at Missouri Southern (23-22, 15-16 MIAA) Friday evening 10-4, where the Hillcats hit four home runs and tallied 12 hits.
 
"That was a big win against a really good team, and Missouri Southern's pitcher was really good," said head coach Chris Klimas. "But Ky Decker picked a great time to throw his best game of the year, and we had a really balanced offensive day from our hitters today. The ground balls Decker was able to induce with some early traffic and some big-time double-plays really proved to be the difference maker for us. I'm really proud of the way the guys competed, but we also understand we have a tall challenge the rest of the weekend."
 
The Hillcats wasted no time getting the bats going and scored four runs in the first two innings of play. Andrew Ramirez hit a home run in the bottom of the first inning, which tied the single-season record in the NCAA era for RSU. Andrew Vanisi hit 12 home runs for the Hillcats in 2015. RSU scored again when Weston Peninger hit another home run over the left field fence. 
 
RSU scored two more runs in the top of the second inning, when Jake Mitchell hit a home run, allowing Andres Contreras to score.
 
In the bottom of the second inning, the Lions responded with a run, making the score 4-1. But RSU responded with two runs in the top of the third inning when Contreras doubled down the left field line, allowing Jackson Romero and Peninger to score. MSSU scored two runs, but RSU led 6-3 after three innings of play. 
 
RSU stayed consistent, scoring two more runs in the top of the fourth inning. In the top of the fifth inning, the Hillcats built a 9-3 lead when Contreras hit a solo home run over the center field fence. 
 
RSU played excellent defense the rest of the game, and Peninger scored another run in the top of the ninth inning for RSU. He scored three runs for the Hillcats. The Lions scored a run in the bottom of the ninth inning, but the Hillcats never were threatened.
 
Ky Decker (7-2) took the win, where he threw seven strikeouts. Cole Gayman (3-5) took the loss.
 
RSU returns to action tomorrow when they play MSSU in game two of  the three-game series in Joplin. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.