CLAREMORE, Okla. - The Rogers State baseball team struggled to shake off the residual effects of a tough road trip and settled for a split in two non-conference games played at the Hillcat Complex Tuesday.
 

The Hillcats failed to capitalize on a number of early scoring opportunities early against York College (York, Neb.) and let the game get away from them late as the Panthers posted an 11-1 victory. RSU bounced back with a better performance against Bacone College. The Hillcats rallied for three runs in their final two at-bats to edge the Warriors, 6-4, in the nightcap.

GAME ONE (vs. York)
 

The Diamond Cats squandered chances to score in each of the first four innings while York made the most of its opportunities late in the ball game.
 

RSU loaded the bases in the first and third innings with less than two outs, but came up empty. The game remained scoreless through the first four frames as Hillcat starter DJ Thompson took a no-hitter into the fifth. However, Justin Lunday led off the top of the fifth with a single up the middle and Eduardo Camarena followed two batters later with a three-run homer.
 

Sam Feiner and C.T. Twissleman ripped RBI doubles in the sixth and Camarena chased Thompson from the game with the third double of the inning. Lunday added a two-run homer in the top of the seventh off reliever Cristian Baez to make it 10-1.
 

The Hillcats' lone run came on a solo homer by Brandt Barnes in the bottom of the seventh inning. Thompson (1-1) suffered the loss in 5.2 innings of work while Kai Miller picked up the win in relief for the Panthers.
 

RSU left 13 runners on base in the contest while York stranded just three. The Panthers improved to 14-5 on the season with the victory.

GAME TWO (vs. Bacone)
 

Freshman Casey Cassity turned the momentum around with a strong performance on the mound against Bacone. The southpaw yielded just one run over the first six innings while the Cats built a 3-1 advantage. 
 

Joe Manbodh put RSU in front with a two-run double to left field in the bottom of the third inning and Rob Rodriguez tacked on an RBI double in the fifth.
 

The Warriors grabbed the lead with three unearned runs in the top of the seventh inning. A two-out throwing error extended the inning and allowed Brandon Debo and Yasel Gomez to plate three runs with back-to-back RBI singles.
 

The Hillcats responded with two runs in the bottom of the seventh. Luis Caraballo tied the score with a single to left field and Manbodh followed with an RBI groundout. Keith Poverud added an insurance run in the eighth when he belted his second home run of the season over the scoreboard in left.
 

Frensly Martina (2-0) earned the pitching victory with 1.1 innings of scoreless relief while Jordan Clark picked up his fifth save. Cassity recorded a no decision despite a solid pitching effort. He allowed four runs, one earned, on nine hits over 6.2 innings of work. Ryan Brewer was tagged with the loss for Bacone.
 

Rogers State (15-6) snapped a four-game losing streak with the victory. The Hillcats will host No. 1 Lubbock Christian in a three-game series beginning Thursday at the Hillcat Complex. The Cats will take on the defending national champions in a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. The series finale will be played Friday at 1 p.m.