AUSTIN, Texas – The Rogers State baseball team suffered a doubleheader sweep at one of the nation's top teams, No. 11-ranked St. Edward's, falling 9-1 and 4-0 in the twin bill Thursday at Lucian Hamilton Field.
 
GAME ONE
Six different players recorded a hit for RSU, but it was SEU cruising to a 9-1 victory in the opener behind five runs in the fourth inning.
 
The Hillcats threatened in the first as Jordan Garr started things with a walk and Cesar Rodriguez added an infield single putting two runners on base. SEU starting pitcher Collin Sherrod, a two-time all-region lefty, retired the next two batters keeping the game scoreless.
 
The Hilltoppers tallied a pair of one-out runs in the second inning behind three-straight hits, including an RBI triple, taking a 2-0 advantage. The margin was pushed to 4-0 in the third on a two-run single by Hunter Courson.
 
RSU cracked through on Sherrod in the top of the fourth as Ismael Orozco led the frame being hit by a pitch. After moving to third on a pair of groundouts, the junior came home on a double from Garrett Hall, cutting the deficit to 4-1.
 
A five-run fourth for SEU broke open the contest as the home side took advantage of two hit batters opening the inning. Back-to-back, two-run hits forced the exit of RSU starter Blake Roley and the Hilltoppers moved the lead to 9-1.
 
The Cats again put two runners on base in the sixth, but stranded the pair and SEU closed out the win in game one. Roley suffered the loss allowing all nine runs in three innings, while Landon Nealon pitched the final three without allowing a hit.
 
GAME TWO
SEU limited the Hillcats to just four hits closing the Thursday doubleheader with the sweep, winning 4-0 in the finale.
 
RSU had the tying run on deck in the top of the ninth after back-to-back singles by Samuel Davison and Zack Ashford, but the nationally-ranked Hilltoppers retired the next three batters to preserve the shutout.
 
The Hilltoppers jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first getting the first two batters to reach via hit before an RBI groundout produced the game's opening tally. After SEU left two runners on base in the first and second innings, it doubled its advantage in the third scoring on another groundout.
 
RSU posted its first base runner in the top of the fifth as Orozco and Chris Miguel led with singles, but a ground ball double play kept the Hillcats off the scoreboard still trailing 2-0. The margin moved to 4-0 in the sixth on a two-out, two-run single for SEU.
 
The Hillcats' bullpen continued to keep the team in the game as Justin Magstadt entered in relief tossing the final two innings allowing just one hit.
 
The last-inning rally for RSU got started by Davison, who sent a 0-2 pitch into right, and Ashford followed by pulling a single into left. SEU starter Cameron Stanton capped off the complete-game shutout setting down the next three hitters for the 4-0 victory.
 
The Hillcats (16-10, 3-5 HC) close the weekend series against the Hilltoppers Friday morning at 11 a.m.