WICHITA, Kan. - Rogers State stood tall in its first ever game against NCAA Division I competition before falling 12-7 to Wichita State at Eck Stadium Wednesday night in Wichita, Kan.
 
The Hillcats out-hit the Shockers and didn't commit an error in the contest. However, three RSU hurlers combined to issue five walks and hit three batters. Seven of the eight Shockers who received a free pass eventually scored. 
 
"I was proud of the effort our kids gave tonight," said Coach Ron Bradley. "We really competed at the plate and played a flawless game defensively. You just can't afford to give up that many base-runners when you're playing a team of this caliber."
 
The Cats fell behind 3-0 when WSU plated three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Starter DJ Thompson walked the first two hitters of the game and gave up RBI singles to Ryan Jones and Johnny Coy. RSU responded in the top of the second with three straight hits to start the inning. Colton West led off the frame with a double and Joe Manbodh followed with a single. Zach Hamby crushed a three-run homer to left-field to tie the game at 3-3. 
 
The Shockers came right back with three runs on three hits in the bottom of the second. Brandt Barnes singled and scored in the top of the third and the Cats retied the game at 6-6 with two runs in the fourth. Manbodh and Hamby started the inning with back-to-back singles. Rob Rodriguez drove in Manbodh with a single to left and Jairo Valdez chased home Hamby with a double to right-center. 
 
Things came unraveled for RSU in the bottom of the fourth as the Cats gift-wrapped a five-run frame for the Shockers. Thompson was lifted from the game after hitting a batter and walking another. Reliever Drew Taylor plunked Clint McKeever to load the bases before surrendering a grand-slam to Johnny Coy. 
 
Kevin Radford singled and scored on a rip by Rodriguez in the sixth, but Jones answered with a solo homer in the bottom of the inning. Both teams were held scoreless over the final three frames.
 
Reliever TJ McGreevy (1-0) earned his first win of the season with 2.2 innings of relief. Thompson (1-2) was tagged with the loss after giving up five runs on eight hits over 3.1 innings of work. Taylor allowed four runs on three hits in 3.2 innings and freshman Frensly Martina worked a scoreless eighth for the Hillcats.
 
Manbodh, Hamby and Rodriguez combined for six of the Cats' 10 hits. Coy led the Shockers with two hits and five RBI.
 
Rogers State (18-5) returns to Sooner Athletic Conference play Thursday afternoon against the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma. First pitch from Chickasha, Okla., is slated for 1 p.m.