CLAREMORE, Okla. —Grit and a little bit of late heroics defined the opening game of the season for RSU baseball (0-1), as they rallied from a five-run deficit to claim the 6-5 win over UMary (0-1) at the RCB Bank Sports Complex. The Hillcats used a walk-off to notch the opening-day victory. 

UMary opened the scoring in the second inning as Kieran Gaffney scored the game's first run after Luke Rhee's pickoff/caught stealing plan worked to perfection.

In the fourth inning, the Marauders extended their lead to 2-0 with an RBI single from Gaffney.

UMary's momentum continued into the fifth inning with a three-run homer from Isaac Pegors, increasing their advantage to 5-0.

RSU responded in the bottom of the sixth when Sammy Harris hit a three-run homer, bringing Tyle Nelson and Jordan Tucker across the plate, narrowing the deficit to 5-3 after six innings.

In the seventh inning, Trevor Spainhoward's solo home run brought RSU within one run, trailing 5-4.

The Hillcats tied the game in the eighth after Andrew Ramirez scored on a double play, leveling the score at 5-5.

In the bottom of the ninth, Jake Mitchell's double set up the winning run after advancing to third on a throwing error. Spainhoward's sacrifice fly allowed Mitchell to score, securing the 6-5 victory for RSU.

Zach Horwith pitched 4.1 innings, allowing five earned runs on eight hits, including one home run, while striking out two and walking one. Wolf relieved Horwith and delivered 3.2 scoreless innings, striking out five and allowing just one hit. Michael Klein closed with a perfect inning, striking out two of the three batters he faced, earning the win in his RSU debut.

Harris notched a home run and three RBIs. Spainhoward contributed two hits, including a home run and a double, while driving in two runs. Mitchell recorded a double and scored one run. 

RSU and UMary will run it back tomorrow with a doubleheader at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. at the RCB Bank Sports Complex.