CLAREMORE, Okla. – The Rogers State baseball team suffered a pair of heartbreaking one-run losses to No. 20 St. Edward's on Saturday afternoon at the Diamond Sports Complex.
In the opener, all the scoring happened in the first two frames as the Hilltoppers' two-run second proved to be the difference as they earned a 4-3 win. In the nightcap, the Hillcats rallied to knot the score in the eighth but the Hilltoppers battled back to top RSU in the ninth with one run to claim the 4-3 victory.
GAME ONE The first frame was filled with excitement as the Hilltopppers grabbed a quick two run lead in the top of the inning but the Hillcats stormed back with a trio of runs to take the lead.
A two-out double ripped off the wall in left-center field by Jonathan Arrowood drove in two runs to give SEU the advantage.
RSU answered in the bottom of the frame with a trio of runs on four hits.
Caleb Kohlmeyer got the offense started with a single up the middle while
Cesar Rodriguez followed with a single and both runs moved to scoring position.
Andrew Vanisi drove in both base runners with a double down the left field line.
Blake Gipson rounded out the scoring with a RBI infield single, giving RSU the 3-2 lead.
In the top of the second, the Hilltoppers strung together three bloop singles with two outs and Gable Whitacre capitalized with a two RBI single to center to give SEU the 4-3 lead.
The two-run second proved to be the difference in the opener. The Hillcats left runners stranded in four of the final five innings but couldn't find the equalizer.
Michael Fusselman (2-3) suffered the loss for RSU, allowing four runs on nine hits with one strikeout.
Bryce Davis (4-1) earned the complete game win on the mound for SEU, allowing three runs on nine hits with four strikeouts.
GAME TWO In the nightcap, SEU took the lead in the fourth with a Joseph Olson RBI single to left-center field. The Hilltoppers doubled their lead in the fifth with a RBI double by Nate Turner and made it a three-run game in the seventh with a squeeze bunt for a base hit by AJ Hermanson that brought Dylan Watts home.
The Hillcat offense started clicking after the seventh inning stretch as they cut the deficit to 3-1. Vanisi and
Trae BoBo hit consecutive singles to start the frame. A RBI fielder's choice by
Austin Culwell put RSU on the board.
After holding the Hilltoppers scoreless in the top of the eighth, RSU tied the game in the bottom of the inning.
Alex Cochran and
Blake Heston tallied back-to-back singles to start the inning. They both moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Kohlmeyer and Rodriguez followed with a two RBI double in the right-center field gap to knot the score.
In the top of the ninth, SEU used a pair of hits to score the eventual game winning run. RSU looked to tie the score in the bottom of the frame but left the game-winning run stranded on third.
Closer TJ Law (1-1) suffered the loss, tossing the ninth inning, allowing one run on two hits. Dan Becks (2-0) pitched the final two thirds of the eighth to earn the win and Cam Hatch tallied his fifth save of the season in the ninth.
Chase Knott went 3-4 in the finale to lead the Hillcats.
Rogers State (9-14, 2-7 HC) will take to the road on Tuesday as the Hillcats face College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Mo. at 2 p.m.
