LUBBOCK, Texas - The Rogers State baseball team ended its season at the NAIA National Championship Opening Round Lubbock Bracket as it fell to fifth-seeded Hastings (Neb.) 10-7 at Hays Field on the campus of Lubbock Christian University.
HC dented the scoreboard first with a pair of runs off of two hits and one RSU error in the second inning.
RSU knotted the score in the top of the third with back-to-back RBI singles by Cade McKewon and Colton West. The Hillcats used small ball to take the lead in the fourth. Cody Campbell and Colton Campbell started the inning with consecutive singles. Senior Joe Manbodh layed down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners to second and third. Billy Balak followed with a sacrifice fly to right field to send Cody Campbell home. With two outs, Jairo Valdez knocked in Colton Campbell with a single to right field.
The Hillcats lead was short-lived as HC rallied to score eight runs in the fifth. With no outs on the scoreboard, Hastings loaded the bases. Mack Land and Mike Tomlin drew back-to-back walks to tie the game. The Broncos added four singles in the inning to plate six runs before the Hillcats managed to get out of the inning.
RSU kept the contest interesting as they trailed 10-4 going into the top of the ninth. With two outs, Kevin Radford belted a double to left field to put runners on second and third. West followed with a single that allowed Valdez to score. Randy Ramirez hit a RBI infield single to put runners on the corners. Cody Campbell was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Broncos closer Mack Land balked, allowing West to score. However, RSU's rally fell short as Land forced a Hillcat groundout to end the game.
Jim Miner (2-1) was tagged with the loss on the mound for the Hillcats. The junior hurler tossed four innings and allowed seven runs, five earned, on four hits. Eric Faust tossed one inning and allowed three runs on four hits with one strikeout. Junior Matt Sample closed out the final three innings and allowed just one hit while fanning five hitters. Kirby Wells registered the win for HC as he pitched eight innings and allowed four runs on six hits with two strikeouts.
Rogers State (45-14) finished the season with its best record in the program history. The Hillcats earned their first Sooner Athletic Conference title and national tournament berth. Seniors Brandt Barnes, Jordan Clark, Grant Cosby, Joe Manbodh, Kevin Radford, Jairo Valdez and Colton West appeared in Hillcat red and blue for the final time.
