CLAREMORE, Okla. — No. 10 Rogers State Baseball (39-14) fell to No. 15 Central Missouri (36-15) with a final score of 9-2 on Friday night in the NCAA Division II Central Regional, held at RCB Bank Sports Complex. Despite collecting 12 hits, RSU struggled to find the plate with only a pair of runs in the loss.
Central Missouri took an early lead in the first inning, scoring two runs. Cole Funkhouser's sacrifice bunt brought home Cole Kreisel, followed by Evan Vienhage's RBI single that scored Chase Wilcox, putting the Mules ahead 2-0.
In the second inning, the Mules added another run after Drew Veatch stole second and third before scoring on Grant Hollister's double, extending their lead to 3-0.
Central Missouri increased its lead to 5-0 in the fifth inning. Jackson Bryant's double to left center brought in two runs.
RSU broke through in the sixth inning when
Sammy Harris doubled to right center and
Blake Conrad drove him in with a single, making the score 7-1.
UCM added a run in the seventh through a fielder's choice by Grant Hollister, and the Hillcats responded in the eighth when
Andres Contreras doubled and later scored on a fielder's choice by Harris. The score stood at 8-2 after eight innings.
Central Missouri capped its scoring in the ninth with a run driven in by Drew Veatch's double. RSU was unable to rally in its half of the ninth, leaving the final score at 9-2 in favor of the Mules.
Dillon Dibrell (8-5) started on the mound for the Cats', throwing 4.2 innings with four strikeouts. He allowed nine hits and five earned runs, issuing one walk in his 83-pitch outing.
Mason Trotter came in as relief, pitching one inning, giving up two hits and two runs.
Cole Abbott closed the game with 3.1 innings, surrendering six hits and two earned runs while recording one strikeout.
Nathan Gutierrez led the Hillcats' offense with three hits. Contreras contributed with a double and two hits. Harris recorded two hits and drove in a run with a double.
RSU will return to action tomorrow at 2 p.m. in an elimination game against Missouri Southern. The winner will play Central Missouri at 5 p.m., with a chance to force the if necessary against the UCM on Sunday at 2 p.m.
