CLAREMORE, Okla. - Rogers State and Wayland Baptist split the first two games of a three-game series Saturday afternoon at the Hillcat Complex in Claremore, Okla.
 

The Hillcats scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to claim the opener, 9-4. The Pioneers pitching staff stifled the RSU hitters in the nightcap and salvaged a split with a 4-1 victory. The two teams will complete the series Sunday with the rubber match scheduled for 1 p.m.

GAME ONE
 

The Cats climbed back from a 4-2 hole with two runs in the fifth inning and five in the sixth to win the first game of the series, 9-4.
 

Ryan Littlejohn ripped a two-run single up the middle with two outs in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game, 4-4. Blake Kelley walked to start the sixth inning and scored the go-ahead run on a pinch-hit single by Joe Faircloth. After a walk to Coby Wright, Zach Hamby blew the game open with a three-run homer to center field. Joe Manbodh singled and scored on a double by Littlejohn to cap the five-run inning.
 

RSU scored the first run of the game in the first inning when Littlejohn scored Wright with a sacrifice fly off of Todd Weldon. Littlejohn went 2-for-3 with four RBI in the contest. A three-run home run by Keith Martin in the top of the fourth inning put the Pioneers in front for the first time. However, Travis Harold answered with a solo shot in the bottom of the inning. WBU plated an unearned run in the top of the fifth to push the lead back to two, but the Cats refused to be denied, scoring seven runs in their final two at-bats to complete a come-from-behind win.
 

Grant Cosby (4-2) was solid on the mound while picking up the complete-game victory. He scattered nine hits across seven innings and allowed just three earned runs. Weldon (10-3) suffered the loss after giving up five runs on five hits. He was replaced after walking Kelley to start the sixth inning. Reliever Chris McNeil allowed Kelley to score and was tagged for four more runs in the inning.
 

Hamby went 3-for-3 with three RBI while the Hillcats snapped the Pioneers' eight-game winning streak.

GAME TWO
 

Two Pioneer pitchers combined to hold the Hillcats to just three hits as WBU took the nightcap, 4-1.
 
After cruising through the first four innings, RSU starter Randy Jones was touched for four runs on four hits in the top of the fifth. Josh Lucas started the inning with a double and scored on a double by Bobby Curtis. Eddie Allen made it 2-0 with an RBI double to right and Brett Sheppard broke the game open with a two-out single down the left field line to stretch the lead to 4-0.
 

WBU starter Trevor Stringer held the Cats scoreless until the sixth when Harold led off the inning with his second solo home run of the afternoon. However, it would be the only tally of the game for RSU. Wright ripped a single up the middle and Hamby drew a walk to bring the tying run to the plate. Marcus Limon came on to close the game out. He struck out Joe Manbodh on a 3-2 curveball to escape the sixth and retired the Hillcats in order in the seventh.
 

Jones (2-3) took the loss after giving up four runs on five hits in 4.2 innings of work. Stringer (7-0) kept his perfect record intact while Limon earned the four-out save. Lucas had two of the Pioneers five hits while Wright tallied two of RSU's three base knocks.
 

Rogers State (27-16, 11-12) will complete the series against Wayland Baptist Sunday afternoon at the Hillcat Complex. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.