CLAREMORE, Okla. - After dropping the doubleheader opener 6-1, the Rogers State baseball team earned a 16-9 come from behind victory in the nightcap over Northwestern Oklahoma State at Hillcat Complex on Friday evening.
In the opener, the Hillcats took a 1-0 lead in the first inning however the Rangers posted six unanswered runs to claim victory. NWOSU grabbed a 7-0 lead early in game two but the Cats offense came alive and used eight runs in the sixth inning to register the 16-9 win.
GAME ONE
Senior Brandt Barnes led off the first with a double and plated the Cats lone run of the game off an error.
The Rangers took over, posting runs in each of the next three innings. NWOSU tied the score in the second. Vincent Valdez led off the inning with a double and scored on a ground out by Quinton Haynes. The Rangers used a trio of hits to plate two runs in the third. They pushed the lead to 6-1 in the fourth with three runs on four hits.
Tyler Garner (4-1) suffered the loss on the mound for the Hillcats. The junior hurler tossed three and one third innings. He allowed six runs on nine hits with one strike out and no walks. NWOSU pitcher Chase Phelps (2-0) earned the win as he allowed just four hits and one unearned run with six strikeouts in five and one third innings of work.
RSU left seven runners on base and Barnes was the lone Hillcat to record two hits in the game.
GAME TWO
The Hillcats overcame a 7-0 deficit to defeat NWOSU in the nightcap.
With two outs in the top of the first, NWOSU posted a pair of runs off a double by Valdez.
The Rangers increased the lead to seven with five runs in the second. With two outs, designated hitter J.C. Aguayo blasted a three-run homer over the centerfield fence. NWOSU tacked on two more runs with a double by Chris Russell later in the inning.
RSU chipped away at the deficit in the bottom of the second. The Hillcat loaded the bases and Jairo Valdez hit a single to plate Lance Rymel who led off the inning with a single. Brandt Barnes followed with a single down the right field line that allowed Billy Balak and Taylor Estes to score. Cade McKewon hit a sacrifice fly to plate Valdez as RSU trailed 7-4.
The Rangers pushed the lead to 8-4 with a two-out solo home run by Juan Natal. RSU continued to claw its way back from a four run deficit thanks to a two run homer by Barnes in the fourth.
NWOSU scored a run in the top of the fifth but the Hillcats did the rest of the scoring in the contest.
RSU pushed a pair of runs across home plate in the fifth to bring the Cats with in one run of the Rangers.
The Cats held the Rangers scoreless in the top of the six and carried the momentum into the bottom half of the inning.
Valdez led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a pass ball. Barnes followed with a single to shallow right field and McKewon walked to load the bases with no outs. Senior Colton West followed with a single to centerfield that sent the go-ahead run across home plate. The Cats followed with five consecutive hits and a sacrifice fly to plate six runs and take a 16-9 advantage going into the seventh inning.
Zach Williams closed the seventh inning as he retired the side with three straight strikeouts. The right-handed hurler threw just 10 pitched in the inning.
Freddy Soto (1-0) earned his first win of the season as he threw three pitches to strikeout Haynes and end the sixth inning. Eddie Cumpston (3-1) was tagged with the loss for NWOSU. He allowed four runs on three hits and was removed from the game in the middle of the sixth inning.
Barnes stole two bases and blasted a home. He went 3-for-4 from the plate with four RBI and two runs scored. Rymel and Valdez registered two RBI apiece and were perfect at the plate. Rymel registered two hits while Valdez went 3-for-3 with three runs scored.
Rogers State (26-5, 9-3) looks to earn the series win in the finale against Northwestern Oklahoma State on Saturday at Hillcat Complex. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. and the game will be broadcast live on RSU Radio 91.3FM and on www.rsuhillcat.com.
