CLAREMORE, Okla. – No. 7 Rogers State baseball (35-6, 23-4 MIAA) took game one of the series against Washburn University (17-24, 13-14 MIAA) on Friday, defeating the Ichabods 11-5.

Zach Horwith started on the mound for Rogers State, pitching 6.0 innings. The right-hander faced 24 batters, recording two strikeouts, seven groundouts and nine flyouts while allowing three walks and three hits. His one run allowed in the contest was unearned.

Friday's series opener began slowly before setting the tone for an eventful weekend of Hillcat baseball. The Hillcats scored twice through seven innings on RBI singles by Zak Nelson in the second and Andres Contreras in the fourth. The Ichabods responded in the seventh inning, taking a 3-2 lead with an RBI triple followed by an RBI double.

Rogers State broke the game open in the eighth inning with a nine-run surge, extending its lead to 11-3 on six hits and two Washburn errors.

The inning unfolded in relentless fashion: Andrew Ramirez delivered a two-run single, Sammy Harris followed with an RBI single and Contreras added an RBI double. Nathan Gutierrez kept the line moving with a sacrifice fly before Z. Nelson drove in two more with a double. Kade Goeke capped the outburst with a two-run single, punctuating one of the team's most decisive innings of the season.

The Ichabods attempted to rally but were unable to overcome the deficit, as Rogers State secured the 11-5 victory.

Mason Trotter (5-0) took the mound in the seventh inning and earned the win for the Hillcats. He faced nine batters with one strikeout, while allowing three hits and one walk. Christian Estep closed out the game, getting the final three outs while giving up three hits and a walk.

UP NEXT
The Hillcats will face Washburn on Saturday, April 18, for Senior Day at RCB Bank Sports Complex. Senior Day activities begin at 1:20 p.m., with the first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m.