CLAREMORE, Okla. — No. 7 Rogers State baseball (35-7, 23-5 MIAA) fell to Washburn (18-24, 14-14 MIAA) with a final score of 12-4 on Senior Day Saturday at RCB Bank Sports Complex.
Prior to the game, RSU honored
Kade Goeke,
Blake Conrad,
Dillon Dibrell,
Tyler Nelson,
Sammy Harris,
Ricardo Landeros,
Luis Fuentes,
Trevor Spainhoward,
Cole Abbott,
Jake Mitchell,
Nathan Gutierrez,
Andrew Ramirez,
Dylan Weddle,
Alex Dehzad,
Zach Horwith,
Andres Contreras and
Cannon Restine. With the best season of the NCAA Division II era still in full swing, this senior class has collected a record of 114-74 and has made the MIAA Tournament every season.
Washburn's six-run ninth inning sealed the victory, while the Hillcats' leaving 18 baserunners stranded also played a pivotal part in the outcome.
Washburn took an early lead in the third inning when Trenton Barry scored on Jack Borgmann's RBI single, putting the Ichabods ahead 1-0.
In the fourth inning, Washburn extended its lead with a four-run surge. A two-RBI double by Barry followed by a two-run homer from Ian Luce pushed the score to 5-0.
The Hillcats responded in the fifth inning. Goeke scored on an RBI single from Contreras, and Harris came home on Mitchell's single, narrowing the gap to 5-2.
The Cats' continued to rally in the seventh inning. Mitchell scored on an RBI walk by Conrad, and Gutierrez crossed the plate on Goeke's bases-loaded walk, bringing the score to 5-4.
The Ichabods added to their lead in the eighth with an RBI double by Levi Risenhoover, making it 6-4.
Washburn sealed the victory in the ninth inning with a six-run effort, featuring a solo home run by Brandt Beeby and a two-RBI double from Luce. The final score was 12-4 in favor of Washburn.
Dibrell (7-2) started on the mound for RSU, pitching 3.2 innings and allowing five earned runs on five hits, while issuing four walks and striking out four. Landeros relieved Dibrell and pitched 2.2 innings, conceding three hits and hitting two batters, while recording one strikeout.
Elijah Knowlton followed, pitching 2.2 innings and giving up seven earned runs on eight hits. Restine closed the game for RSU, throwing 1/3 of an inning and delivering six pitches, half of which were strikes.
Goeke contributed with a hit and an RBI while also drawing two walks. Harris recorded two hits and scored once, helping to advance the offensive efforts. Mitchell added two hits, one RBI, and scored a run, showcasing consistency at the plate. Contreras delivered two hits and drove in a run, aiding the lineup's productivity.
The Hillcats and Ichabods will conclude the series tomorrow with the rubber match at 1 p.m.
