CLAREMORE, Okla. - After posting a victory to open the series with Oklahoma Christian, the No.11 Rogers State baseball team dropped the final two games on Tuesday evening at Hillcat Complex in Claremore.
The Eagles broke a 3-3 tie in the fifth inning to take the opening game of the twin bill, 6-4. In the nightcap, OC led 1-0 as they entered the top of the seventh. The Hillcats allowed eight runs in the inning as the Eagles claimed the 9-0 victory and series win.
GAME ONE
The Hillcats scored first in the opener, however a three-run homer by Clint Bowker in the fifth inning proved to be the deference in the game.
The Hillcats struck first in the game. Randy Ramirez led off the second with a walk. He then stole second and third base. The junior short stop crossed home plate on a wild pitch by Will Reinke to put the Cats on top 1-0.
OC quickly tied the game in the top of the third with a leadoff home run by Caleb Price. Dillon Andrews followed with a triple and scored on a single by Clint Bowker. The Eagles managed one final run in the inning off a dropped fly ball in centerfield by Kevin Radford to give the Eagles a 3-1 advantage.
The Hillcats rallied in the bottom of the inning. Radford led off with a double and Jairo Valdez laid down a bunt for a single to put runners on the corners. Senior Brandt Barnes hit a two RBI double to left field to knot the score at 3-3.
After a scoreless fourth inning, the Eagles regained the lead with a three-run homer over the left field fence by Bowker.
The Hillcats added one run in the sixth and held OC scoreless in the top of the seventh. Barnes hit a one-out triple in the top of the seventh but the Cats were unable to capitalize.
Jordan Clark (3-1) suffered the loss on the mound for the Cats. The senior hurler tossed four and one third innings and allowed six runs, four earned, on six hits with three strikeouts. Will Reinke (2-0) garnered the win for OC as he tossed five innings and allowed four runs, three earned, on four hits with five strikeouts.
GAME TWO
The Eagles earned an early 1-0 lead in the first and opened the flood gates in the seventh with eight runs to ice the win.
An RBI single by Bowker sent Dustin Andrews across home plate and gave OC a 1-0 lead in the first inning.
OC held the Hillcats to just three hits in the night cap.
The Eagles secured the victory in the seventh with eight runs off three hits and two Hillcat errors.
Casey Cassity suffers the loss on the mound after tossing five and one third innings. The sophomore allowed one run on six hits with two strikeouts. Bowker registered the win for OC as he pitched six scoreless innings and allowed just two hits.
Rogers State (31-8, 12-6) will travel to Shawnee, Okla. on Thursday as they face No. 5 Oklahoma Baptist at 6 p.m. They will finish the series with a twin bill at Hillcat Complex on Saturday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
