CLAREMORE, Okla. – The Rogers State baseball team had a disappointing finish in its home finale as No. 12-ranked Arkansas Tech blanked the Hillcats 11-0 Tuesday evening in non-conference action from the Diamond Sports Complex.
The Diamond Cats could not break through a tough pitching staff limited to just four hits in the game with Austin Culwell's sixth-inning double going as the only extra-base hit.
The Wonder Boys saw their offense get off to a quick start in the top of the first scoring twice on Kris Ayers' two-run double, which landed just in front of a diving Alex Cochran. Tech extended its lead to 3-0 tallying a run in the second when Sage Boehner drove Jay Johnson home with a sacrifice fly.
Ayers increased his RBI total on the day to four plating two on a sharp single in the fourth after a walk loaded the bases. The Wonder Boys scored four in the inning, all with two outs, after reliever Travis Teague got the first two batters in the frame to fly out moving the RSU deficit to 7-0.
The Hillcats posted hits in three consecutive innings but were held off the scoreboard for the fifth time this season.
The Wonder Boys added a single run in the seventh and closed the run-rule decision posting three runs in the eighth recording 12 hits in the game.
Tech's starting pitcher Trent Armstrong faced the minimum through four innings getting a double play to end the third. Armstrong allowed just two hits in five innings of work as he remained unbeaten at 5-0 on the season. The bullpen threw three scoreless innings allowing two hits.
Rogers State (16-22) hits the road for its final two series in Heartland Conference play starting April 18-19 at Texas-Permian Basin. The Hillcats and Falcons begin a three-game set Friday with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.
Tuesday's game marked the final home game in the careers of eight seniors for the Hillcats, who combined for two appearances in the Avista-NAIA World Series and one Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament championship.
