CLAREMORE, Okla. - The No. 19 Rogers State baseball team nipped Benedictine College (Kan.) twice on Tuesday evening as Head Coach Ron Bradley registered his 200th collegiate coaching victory at Hillcat Complex in Claremore.
Coach Bradley began his collegiate coaching career at RSU in 2004 as he brought baseball back to the Hill. The Diamond Cats played their inaugural season in 2006 and have enjoyed five winning season over the last six year. The 2011 Diamond Cats had the most success in program history going 45-15 and capturing the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament Championship. The Cats reached the NAIA National Championship Opening Round and were ranked as high as No. 11 in the NAIA Baseball Coaches' Poll, marking the first time the Cats had cracked the Top 25 in program history.
"When we started this program six years ago I did not think we would be able to accomplish all we have in this short period of time," Head Coach Ron Bradley said. "We have been fortunate to have talented players who have given this young program a chance to win games. The kids are the ones who win the games, I am proud to be associated with this ball club."
The Hillcats staged a two-run rally in the bottom of the sixth and Zach Williams faced the minimum on the mound in the top of the seventh to give RSU the 4-3 victory in the opener. The Hillcats took an early lead in the nightcap and fought off a two- run rally by BC in the top of the ninth to secure the 5-3 win.
GAME ONE
RSU was forced to come from behind to win the opener. The Hillcats opened the game with a 2-0 lead thanks to a pair of Raven errors and an RBI single up the middle by Lance Rymel, sending two runs home.
After a scoreless second inning, BC knotted the score in the third with a sacrifice fly to deep center field by Josh Piper and a RBI single by Aaron Molinaro. The Ravens took the lead in the fourth with an RBI ground out by Ben Loughman.
In the sixth, Cade McKewon drew a walk to start the rally and scored on a two-out single down the right field line by McKenzie Matthews. Matthews advanced to third on an error by the right fielder and scored on a single by Eric Baker.
Williams closed out the game and earned the save as he faced the minimum in the seventh. Freddy Soto garnered the win on the mound as he tossed two scoreless innings and allowed one hit while striking out three and allowing just one walk.
Matthews, Baker and Colton Campbell tallied two hits apiece to lead the Cats. Matthews went 2-for-2 with one RBI and one run scored.
GAME TWO
RSU took an early lead and hung on the rest of the way to secure the 5-3 win. Baker led off the first with a walk and advance to second on a stolen base. He reached third on a single by Hector Rivera and scored on a sacrifice fly by Rymel to give RSU a 1-0 advantage.
BC answered in the top of the second with a RBI by Tyler French to tie the score. However, the Hillcats regained the lead in the bottom of the inning. With runners on first and third Keith Poverud broke for home when the Ravens catcher threw down to second to try to catch Jeff Fyfe stealing. Poverud dove into home to secure the go-ahead run and Fyfe slid in safe at second.
The Hillcats added to their lead in the fourth with a two-out RBI double by Emmanuel De La Cruz and a RBI single up the middle by Eric Baker. RSU tacked on its final run in the fifth with a two-out RBI single to left-center field by McKewon.
Back-to-back doubles gave the Ravens hope in the top of the seventh as they plated a run to keep BC alive. An RBI ground out by Ryan Lengyle put the Ravens within striking distance but pitcher Jim Miner battled back, forcing Josh Piper to ground out to end the game.
Casey Cassity (2-0) registered the win on the mound as he tossed three effective innings for the Hillcats. He allowed three hits and one run with just one walk.
Rogers State (21-3) will return to Sooner Athletic Conference play on Thursday as the Hillcats travel to Shawnee, Okla. to take on St. Gregory's in a single nine inning game at 2 p.m.
