TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — Four different Hillcats hit home runs as Rogers State baseball (20-3, 8-1 MIAA) secured the series sweep over Northeastern State (7-17, 2-10 MIAA) with a 17-5 run-rule in seven innings on Saturday at Rousey Field. 

The Hillcats extend their winning streak to 12 games and have now won seven straight against the RiverHawks. 

RSU tallied 18 hits, including four home runs, to overpower the RiverHawks, which recorded five hits and three home runs.

Rogers State opened the scoring in the first inning when Kade Goeke scored on a double by Andres Contreras. Northeastern State responded with a solo home run by Klete Finley, tying the score at 1-1 after the first inning.

In the second inning, Nathan Gutierrez homered to left field, followed by Trevor Spainhoward's double and a run scored on a passed ball. Zak Nelson and Luis Fuentes each contributed RBI hits, and Andrew Ramirez added another RBI single. The RiverHawks answered with a three-run homer by Chance Pair, bringing the score to 5-4 in favor of RSU at the end of the second inning.

The Hillcats extended their lead in the third inning as Contreras doubled and later scored on a groundout by Gutierrez. The score was 6-4 after three innings.

In the fourth inning, Ramirez doubled to drive in two runs, followed by an RBI single from Contreras. The Hillcats led 9-4 through four innings.

The fifth inning saw a significant surge from RSU as it scored eight runs. Fuentes (1) hit a two-run home run, and Ramirez (4) added another two-run homer. Jake Mitchell (6) capped the inning with a three-run home run. The score was 17-4 at the end of the fifth inning.

The RiverHawks managed a solo home run by Pair in the seventh inning, but Rogers St. maintained its lead to claim the 17-5 victory.

Spencer Hatch (3-1) pitched 5.0 innings, allowing four earned runs on three hits, while striking out six batters. He threw 75 pitches, 51 of which were strikes, and managed a WHIP of 1.00. Ricardo Landeros contributed a scoreless inning of relief, striking out two and conceding just one hit over 16 pitches. Michael Klein closed the game with one inning of work, yielding one run on one hit and recording two strikeouts.

Ramirez contributed significantly with three hits, including a home run and a double, and five RBIs. Contreras added four hits and two RBIs, including two doubles. Gutierrez tallied two hits, including a home run, and drove in two runs. Nelson scored three times and doubled while driving in two runs. Mitchell and Fuentes also tallied home runs. 

Rogers State baseball will play a special midweek game against the Central Oklahoma Bronchos on Tuesday, March 17, at 6:05 p.m. at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in downtown Oklahoma City.