PLAINVIEW, Texas - The Rogers State baseball team started Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament play with an 18-2 drubbing of the University of Science and Arts on Wednesday afternoon at Wilder Field on the campus of Wayland Baptist University.
The Cats season-high 18 runs scored was fueled by a trio of home runs that accounted for 10 of the team's runs scored. The Hillcats surged to a 10-2 lead over the first four innings and cruised to the run-rule decision with eight runs in the sixth frame.
Colton West gave the Hillcats an early 1-0 lead in the first as he hit an RBI single to send Brandt Barnes home after leading off the inning with a single and a stolen base.
Drover catcher Blake Taylor evened the score in the top of the third with his first home run of the season. With one out, the junior belted a solo shot over the left field fence.
The Hillcats regained the lead in the bottom of the inning with five runs on six hits. Barnes led off the inning with an infield single and stole second base. Junior Cade McKewon followed with a sacrifice bunt to put Barnes on third. West grounded out to second base and Barnes scored. Randy Ramierz singled and scored on a single by Cody Campbell. Colton Campbell was hit by a pitch and Lance Rymel singled to load the bases. Sophomore Keith Poverud drew a walk and Cody Campbell scored. Senior Jairo Valdez and Brandt Barnes hit back-to-back RBI singles with two outs to give the Cats the 6-1 lead.
Brandon Jewett led off the fourth with a solo home run over the left field fence to cut the Drovers deficit. However, the Cats retired the next three hitter and held onto the 6-2 advantage.
Rymel belted a first pitch grand slam in the fourth inning to increase the lead to 10-2.
The Hillcats put the game on ice in the sixth as they plated eight runs on five hits. Poverud blasted a two-run homer over the left field fence. West drove in two runs with a bases-loaded double and Cody Campbell cleared the bases with a grand slam. RSU retired the side in the top of the seventh to complete the run-rule victory.
Senior Grant Cosby (8-1) went the distance for RSU. The Fayetteville, Ark. native registered the complete game victory and allowed two runs on five hits while fanning six. David Garcia was tagged with the loss for USAO after giving up six runs in 2.2 innings of work.
Barnes led the team with four hits on the afternoon. Rymel and West had four RBI apiece and Cody Campbell had five RBI.
Rogers State (43-12) will return to SAC Tournament action on Thursday at Wilder Field as they face top-seeded Oklahoma City at 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on RSU Radio 93.1 FM and on www.rsuhillcats.com. You can watch the game free of charge courtesy of Wayland Baptist at www.wbuathletics.com.
