TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Rogers State baseball (9-3, 1-0 MIAA) opened MIAA play with a bang as they rolled to an 18-7 win in eight innings against archrival Northeastern State (6-6, 3-1 MIAA) on the road Friday.
 
"Conference wins are hard to come by in the MIAA, especially on the road," said head coach Chris Klimas. "NSU is a tough place to play and jumping out to that early lead was huge for us, but the hero of the day was Colton Anderson. Pitching in the conference opener on short rest, on a really hard day to pitch, with the wind blowing out; that's warrior-type stuff and I'm glad he's on our side!"
 
The Hillcats wasted little time as they dashed out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning. Andrew Ramirez reached on an error by the second baseman with one out and later advanced to second on a wild pitch. Blake Nichols earned a four-pitch walk with Ramirez reaching third on another wild pitch. With a 2-1 count, Jackson Romero deposited a ball beyond the right field wall to score Ramirez and Nichols. Jake Mitchell then doubled down the left field line. Weston Peninger got in on the home run fun as he blasted a ball to left field, scoring Mitchell.
 
The Riverhawks did not shy away as they punched back with a three-run frame of their own to cut the deficit to 5-3. A three-run homer to left put them on the board.
 
The RSU bats stayed hot in the second inning as they exploded for six runs to go up 11-3. After a leadoff walk of Tyler Nelson and Luis Fuentes' second plunking of the day put runners at first and second, Andres Contreras unloaded on a 1-0 pitch, sending in screaming out to right and bringing in Nelson and Fuentes. Ramirez followed suit with a solo shot to left center for RSU's fourth round-tripper of the game. Another double down the left field line from Mitchell drove in Nichols. Andres Mitat capped off the frame as he scored Romero with an RBI groundout to first.
 
The Hillcats tacked on two more runs in the fourth to extend the advantage to 13-3. After Romero earned a 3-1 walk, Mitchell plated him with a double to left field. Mitat later returned the favor as Mitchell came home on his single through the left side of the infield.
 
NSU got two runs back in the bottom of the fifth to cut the lead to 13-5. An error by the third baseman scored the first run with the second crossing on a 6-4-3 double play.
 
RSU got the two runs back in the top of the seventh to go back up 15-5. Back-to-back bases-loaded walks of Mitchell and Peninger brought in Ramirez and Nichols.
 
In the home half of the inning, the Riverhawks were able to delay the run-rule by pushing across two runs to trim the lead to 15-7. A two-run bomb to left scored the runs.
 
However, the Hillcats would not be denied as they added three final runs in the eighth to seal the 18-7 victory. With one out, Contreras earned a four-pitch walk. After a Ramirez single through the left side of the infield put runners at first and second, Nichols loaded the bases with one out after another four-pitch walk. In the next at-bat, Romero watched one pitch before he laced a ball into right center for a three-run double, clearing the bases of Contreras, Ramirez and Nichols.
 
Colton Anderson (4-0) earned the win after a 7.0 inning quality start, allowing five earned runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts. Blake Johnson was also solid in his 1.0 inning of shutout, relief work scattering one hit. Gus Collins (2-1) suffered the loss.
 
The Hillcats will look to claim the series tomorrow as the two teams make their way to the RCB Bank Sports Complex for game two. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.