CLAREMORE, Okla. - The cold weather finally cooled off Rogers State's red hot start Wednesday afternoon at the Hillcat Complex in Claremore, Okla.
 
The Hillcats ran their record to 7-0 before dropping the second game of a doubleheader to Sterling College (Sterling, Kan.) in extra-innings. RSU held off a late rally by the
Warriors to win the first game of the day, 8-7. However, things came unraveled for the Cats in the ninth inning of the nightcap as Sterling scored seven runs to claim a 9-2 victory. The twin bill served as the final tune-up for RSU before it opens Sooner Athletic Conference play Thursday at St. Gregory's.

GAME ONE
 
The Hillcats fell behind early before storming back to post their third consecutive one-run win in the opener.
 
Josh Sylestine capped a four-run inning for the Warriors with a three-run homer to right field in the top of the first off starter DJ Thompson. RSU answered immediately with five runs in the bottom of the frame. Sophomore Billy Balack launched a three-run bomb to right-center and Brandt Barnes singled home a run in his first at-bat of the season.
 
Barnes belted a towering solo home run in his second plate appearance to put RSU on top, 7-4. Balak made it a four-run game with an RBI single up the middle in the fourth. It proved to be an important tack-on run for the Hillcats. 
 
Sterling tagged reliever Cristian Baez for a run in the fifth and two-more in the sixth to draw to within one. Lance Rymel worked out of a jam with a groundout to close the sixth and escaped a bases loaded situation in the seventh with a double play to end the game. Baez (1-0) earned the win with 2.2 innings of relief while Rymel picked up his first save. Starter Brandon Ramirez took the loss for the Warriors. 
 
Balak and Barnes combined for four of the Cats nine hits and tallied six RBI.

GAME TWO
 
The Diamond Cats couldn't stay out of their own way in the nightcap and watched their perfect start to the 2010 season dissapear with a disastrous ninth inning. 
 
Things turned ugly for RSU in the top of the fifth inning. The Cats squandered a 2-0 lead by committing three errors on the infield in the frame. The miscues led to two unearned runs and eventually forced the game to be decided in extra innings.
 
The Hillcats loaded the bases with one out in the top of the eighth, but were unable to score. Pinch-hitter Joe Manbodh bounced a grounder to the third baseman, who cut down the lead runner at the plate and Luis Caraballo grounded out to end the threat.
 
Junior reliever Jake Taylor came on in relief in the ninth and struggled to find the strike zone from the first pitch. He hit the first batter of the inning and issued three walks to force home the go-ahead run. Andrew Archbold opened the flood gates with a two-run single up the middle and Ben Cynova followed with an RBI single to left field. The Warriors tallied seven runs in the inning on just three hits. 
 
Sylestine retired the Cats in order in the ninth to secure the win for Sterling. Keith Famularo earned the win with one inning of work while Taylor (0-1) suffered the loss for RSU. Freshman Casey Cassity was impressive in his first start for the Hillcats. The Southpaw allowed three runs, two earned, with three strikeouts over 5.1 innings of work. Frensly Martina tossed 2.2 innings of scoreless relief for the Diamond Cats. 
 
Rogers State (7-1) will look to get back on track Thursday when it faces St. Gregory's in the first game of a three-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. from Shawnee, Okla.