CLAREMORE, Okla. - Lights out… no problem. The Rogers State baseball team registered a 15-7 win over Oklahoma Wesleyan on Tuesday night despite a venue change and two delays due to lighting issues.
In a game that took just over four hours to complete, the Hillcats tallied 16 hits, scored runs in five different innings and blasted three home runs on the night. The game started at Hillcat Complex where the Eagles took an early lead in the opening frame as senior Jacob Wenaas struggled to find a rhythm on the mound. The left handed hurler loaded the bases and walked in a run before earning back-to-back outs to end the inning.
OWU added to its advantage in the second with a trio of runs to make it a 4-0 game. The lead wouldn't last for long as the Hillcats answered in the bottom of the second with four runs to tie the contest. Cody Campbell put RSU on the board as he crushed a leadoff home run over the center field fence. Cade McKewon reached on an error and advanced to third on a double to deep right field by Keith Poverud. Emmanuel De La Cruz drove both runs in with the second home run of the inning over the center field fence to knot the score, 4-4.
The stadium lights at Hillcat Complex malfunctioned, forcing the game to be moved across town to the friendly confines of Legion Field where the game resumed in the top of the third inning.
After the scoreless third, the Eagles regained the lead with a two RBI double by Nick Palese with two outs in the top of the fourth. The Hillcats responded in the bottom of the inning as De La Cruz tied the game with a two-run home run belted over the left field fence. Lance Rymel gave RSU the lead with a two-out RBI single up the middle. RSU pushed another run across home in the fifth with a RBI single by Poverud to increase the Hillcats' lead to 8-6.
The top of the sixth came with an interruption as there was a power surge that caused the stadium lights at Legion Field to go out, leading to a 30 minute delay. When play resumed, Drew Taylor was lights out on the mound, keeping the Eagles scoreless.
The Hillcats earned plenty of breathing room in the bottom of the sixth as they tallied six runs on four hits. Colton Campbell led off the inning with a walk and stole second. He scored on a RBI double by Rymel. Randy Ramirez and De La Cruz drove in a run apiece with RBI singles and Eric Baker registered a two RBI single to right field. Hector Rivera rounded out the scoring in the inning with a sacrifice fly that brought Taylor Estes home.
The Eagles registered a run in the eighth with the help of an RSU error. However, the Hillcats matched the run in the bottom of the inning with a RBI single by Alex Cochran, bringing Hamilton Hernandez home after hitting a two-out single to keep the Cats alive.
RSU staffed the game on the mound as seven different hurlers made an appearance on the night. The group combined for 10 strikeouts and junior Casey Cassity earned the win with three innings pitched. The Barnsdall, Okla. native allowed three runs, one earned, on five hits with two strikeouts.
De La Cruz went 3-4 at the plate with six RBI and two runs scored. Poverud was 3-3 with one RBI and three runs scored.
Rogers State (36-12) returns to Sooner Athletic Conference play on Thursday as the Cats travel to Mid-America Christian for a single nine-inning contest at 3 p.m.
