CLAREMORE, Okla. - The Rogers State baseball team registered a four-game sweep over Baker (Kan.) during opening weekend at the Diamond Sports Complex.

On Saturday, the Hillcats tallied 14 hits during the doubleheader, registering a 4-1 win in the opener and a 9-3 victory in the night cap. On Sunday, RSU closed out the series with a 4-0 win and a narrow 4-3 victory.

GAME ONE

The Hillcats dented the scoreboard in the bottom of the first to take an early 2-0 lead over the Wildcats. Eric Baker led off the inning with a single and stole second base. Jose Olazagasti followed with a RBI single to bring Baker home. Hector Rivera gave the Cats the 2-0 advantage with a RBI single that sent Olazagasti home.

The Wildcats answered in the top of the second with one run to cut the Hillcats lead to 2-1.

In the fourth Cody Campbell led off with a double down the left field line and advanced to third on a Nick Malter groundout. Brandon Bargas tallied a RBI single to bring Campbell home and push the RSU lead to 3-1.

A RBI single by Baker in the bottom of the sixth gave the Hillcats some insurance going into the seventh as they led 4-1.

Lefty Shawn Spainhoward faced the minimum in the seventh to clinch the win for the Hillcats. The St. Peters, Mo. native went three up, three down in four of the seven innings pitched. He allowed four hits, one run, one walk, and fanned three in the complete game victory.

Wildcats started James Gricol was tagged with the loss on the mound as he tossed five innings and allowed three runs on six hits.

GAME TWO

The Hillcats took an early 3-0 advantage in the second inning. Colton Campbell and Emmanuel De La Cruz opened the inning with consecutive walks and moved into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt by Keith Poverud. Campbell scored on a pass ball and Baker hit a RBI single to bring courtesy runner Alex Cochran home. Olazagasti followed with a RBI double to complete the scoring in the inning.

The Wildcats cut the deficit in the top of the third with a pair of runs thanks to RBIs from Matt Fry and Bryan Kindle.

RSU benefited from an error and a pass ball to put Colton Campbell on third base, allowing Cody Campbell to hit a sacrifice fly and send him home giving RSU a 4-2 lead after three innings.

A four-run fourth gave the Hillcats some breathing room. Rivera stroked a two-RBI double, Olazagasti scored on a wild pitch and Cochran hit a RBI single to complete the inning. Cochran tacked on a RBI groundout in the sixth to give RSU a 9-2 lead. BU added a run in the top of the seventh with one out but RSU relief pitcher Kyle Deaton responded with two consecutive outs to end the game.

Kyle Duncan registered the win on the mound for RSU as he allowed two runs, one earned, on three hits with three strikeouts in six innings of work. Caleb Lee was tagged with the loss as he tossed 3.1 innings and allowed eight runs, six earned, on four hits with six walks and two strikeouts.

GAME THREE

Senior southpaw Brandon Bargas registered a strong performance on the mound in the opening game on Sunday. The Owasso, Okla. native tossed seven scoreless innings, allowing five hits while fanning eight batters.

Colton Campbell put RSU in front with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first and Tyler Wheeler added a two-RBI single to left-center in the third. A RBI single by Poverud in the fifth rounded out the scoring for the Cats.

Bargas finished off the Wildcats, facing the minimum in the sixth and allowing one hit in the seventh. Colton Campbell led the Hillcats going 2-for-3 with one RBI. Olazagasti also tallied two hits and Tyler Wheeler went 1-for-3 with two RBI.

Thomas Hawkins took the loss on the mound for BU as he pitched four innings and allowed three runs on eight hits with two strikeouts.

GAME FOUR

For the first time in the weekend series, the Wildcats dented the scoreboard first in the final game. After a scoreless opening frame, BU tallied three singles to load the bases for Boyce who registered a RBI single to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead.

The BU advantage was short-lived as the Hillcats answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning to take the lead. Colton Campbell led off the inning with a single and eventually scored on an error by the short stop. Cochran registered a RBI groundout to put the Hillcats in front.

BU cut the RSU lead to 3-2 in the top of the fifth but Colton Campbell tacked on a RBI single in the bottom of the inning to give RSU some breathing room.  

BU added a run in the sixth to cut RSU's lead back to one run. In the seventh, the Wildcats put runners on second and third with two outs but junior TJ Law retired the final batter to end the game.

Casey Cassity registered the win on the mound as he tossed four innings, allowing one run on five hits with four strikeouts. Law registered the save as he tossed two innings allowing no runs and no hits while fanning four.

Rogers State (10-3) returns to action at the Diamond Sports Complex against Ecclesia College on Saturday at 1 p.m. The game will be streamed live on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.