OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - Rogers State baseball continued its winning ways completing the three-game sweep against Mid-America Christian Saturday defeating the Evangels in a run rule 16-3 victory in game one and an 8-5 win in game two.
RSU won the opening game of the series 9-1 on Thursday in Claremore, Okla.
With the victories the Hillcats continued their longest winning streak in program history on what is now 16 straight wins.
GAME ONE
The Hillcats fired out of the blocks in the first inning as Colton West's sacrifice fly scored Brandt Barnes and Cade McKewon scored from third on a wild-pitch by the Evangels' David Wynn. RSU claimed the 2-0 lead after the first.
MACU responded in the bottom of the second after holding the Cats to their only scoreless inning in the top of the second. RSU had two errors in the bottom half of the second leading way to three runs, one of which was earned giving the Evangels the 3-2 lead after two.
RSU tied the score as Randy Ramirez reached home off a Keith Poverud RBI single in the third.
The Diamond Cats took off in the fourth inning when McKewon tripled to centerfield scoring Jairo Valdez and Barnes. The Evangels went to the bullpen as Maximiliano Lopez looked to bring relief but the Cats continued the scoring as West reached first on an error and McKewon scored on the play. West eventually scored on a RBI single by Cody Campbell. A wild throw by the Evangels first baseman scored Ramirez. In all the Cats scored six runs in the top of the fourth on just two hits to lead 9-3 as MACU had four errors in the inning.
West cranked a two-run, home run in the top of the fifth to extend the Cat lead to 11-3. RSU put the game away in the sixth as Valdez's RBI single to right scored Billy Balak and Lance Rymel. McKewon blasted a three-run homer on a full count to put the score at its final mark of 16-3.
Grant Cosby (3-0) went five innings in the start giving up four hits and one earned run while striking out four to earn the win. Zack Williams closed the game with one inning pitched striking out all three in the bottom of the sixth.
David Wynn received the loss for MACU in just three and one-third innings after walking five and giving up four hits for four earned runs despite striking out seven.
GAME TWO
After claiming the series, the Cats looked to sweep the Evangels but the bats didn't open up with as much pop early in game two. It wasn't until the top of the second inning that the Cats got on the board with a sacrifice fly by Payden Yarmer to score Ramirez giving RSU the 1-0 lead.
Coach Ron Bradley's squad stretched the lead to and half innings when Colton Campbell scored on a McKewon ground-out. Valdez scored on the next at-bat off a West single.
MACU cut the RSU lead to one in the bottom of the third off a sacrifice-fly by Jon Jon Lemos scoring Emmanuel Jiminian. A RBI single by Eridani Dume scored the courtesy runner Justin Rivera.
Both teams posted two runs in the fifth inning. The Hillcats got the what would be the difference maker in the sixth when an Ivan Juvera wild pitch scored Taylor Estes courtesy running for catcher Joe Manbodh.
An error by the Evangels in the top of the seventh proved costly as West scored from second on the dropped fly ball. The Evangels scored one-run in the bottom of the seventh despite having the bases loaded and the Hillcats came away with the 8-5 win.
Tyler Brown (3-0) recorded the win for RSU after pitching three and one-third innings giving up two earned runs, walking one, giving up four hits and striking out three.
Eric Sweeney got the start and the loss for MACU after allowing four earned runs on six hits and walking two in four and two-thirds innings.
Rogers State (17-1) will return home to the Hillcat Complex welcoming Clark College to Claremore on Wed. March 9 with first pitch of the double-header coming at 3 p.m.
