LUBBOCK, Texas – The Rogers State baseball team's comeback bid fell short on Saturday afternoon as Lubbock Christian avoided the Heartland Conference sweep edging the Hillcats, 11-10, at Hays Field.
The Chaps jumped out to an early 7-0 lead, posting runs in each of the first four innings before the Hillcats found their way onto the scoreboard in the top of the fifth with a
Chase Knott two-run home run belted over the left-center field fence.
In the bottom of the frame, LCU answered with four runs on five hits with the help of an RSU error. The Hillcats cut the deficit in the top of the sixth with a RBI double by
Blake Gipson that drove in
Andrew Vanisi who led off the frame with a single.
Zack Ashford drove in Gipson with a single to center, cutting the deficit to 11-4.
In the seventh,
Ryan Hendricks tallied a pinch hit, RBI single to bring Knott in to score after leading off the inning with a single down the left field line.
After a scoreless eighth, the Hillcats made their final push in the ninth. Knott led off the frame with a double to right-center field.
Caleb Kohlmeyer and Hendricks drew consecutive walks to load the bases for Vanisi who blasted a grand slam over the left field fence. Trailing by a pair of runs, the Hillcat offense continued to battle.
Trae BoBo kept the offense going with a single up the middle and
Garrett Hall registered a one-out double to drive in pinch runner
Johan Ochoa. RSU had the game-tying run in scoring position with one out but fell short as the Chaps escaped with the win, retiring the next two batters.
Zach Tyson (2-2) suffered the loss on the mound, tossing 3.1 innings, allowing seven runs, five earned, on seven hits.
Levi Westerlund (2-5) tallied the win for the Chaps, hurling 5.1 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits with four strikeouts.
Knott led the RSU offense going 4-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored. Vanisi, Gipson and Hall each had two hits apiece.
Rogers State (14-24) returns to action on the road Tuesday at Northeastern State with first pitch set for 1 p.m.
