CLAREMORE, Okla. – The Rogers State baseball team jumped on the St. Edward's Hilltoppers early in game two to take a 5-3 win and split a series-opening doubleheader on Sunday (March 26) at the Diamond Sports Complex. SEU took game one, 1-0, in a superb pitching matchup.
 
St. Edward's 1, Rogers State 0
 
The visiting Hilltoppers capitalized on an RSU error to score the only run in the fourth inning to win game one, 1-0, in a pitching duel between the two starters.
 
RSU's Tim Luce totaled six strikeouts in 7.0 complete innings. The junior allowed the unearned runs and only five hits as the tough-luck loser.
 
Stuart Springer of SEU was just as impressive in his performance, pitching a complete-game two-hitter. He tallied eight strikeouts to move to 5-0 on the season.
 
In the fourth inning, the Hilltoppers put runners at second and third with a double to the gap in right from catcher Gable Whitacre. A groundout to second scored Romeo Cortina, who reached on the error, for the 1-0 score.
 
Rogers State 5, St. Edward's 3
 
The Cats pounced on the Hilltoppers early in game two, scoring three runs in the first inning. RSU added runs in the third and fourth innings to earn the 5-3 game two win and split the doubleheader.
 
SEU starter Tanner Lawson couldn't find the strike zone early, throwing nine straight balls to start the game. Matt Seubert and Sam Davison walked to put two Hillcats on. Bradley Degnan did his job with a sac bunt to put both baserunners in scoring position at second and third.
 
Chris Miguel opened the Hillcat scoring with a two-RBI single to the gap in right to plate Seubert and Davison for the 2-0 advantage. The Cats loaded the bases with a Jason Marley single and an Ismael Orozco walk before Garrett Hall increased the score to 3-0 as he hit a sac fly to left to score Miguel.
 
Miguel wasn't done for the Cats as he produced the final two RSU runs. The senior second baseman continued his strong performance with a solo home right to left field in the third inning to up the advantage to 4-0. With the bases loaded in the fourth, Miguel plated Brooks Douglas, hitting a sac fly to center for a 5-0 lead.
 
The Hilltoppers chipped away at the margin with late runs, but closer Rusty Huber came in shutdown the SEU lineup.
 
Whitacre put the Toppers on the scoreboard with a solo home run in the fifth inning. Romeo Cortina added the other two SEU runs with a sac fly in the sixth inning, and an RBI single to left in the eighth for the final 5-3 score.
 
Spencer Bivens moved to 5-1 on the season, going 7.1 innings with two strikeouts and six hits allowed. Huber posted his seventh save of the season, allowing only two hits. The senior closer pitched 1.2 innings and totaled three strikeouts.
 
Miguel finished 2-for-3 at the plate with four RBI and two runs scored. Seubert, the lead-off hitter, went 2-for-4 with one run scored.  
 
The Hillcats go for the series win tomorrow (March 27) at 12 p.m. at the Diamond Sports Complex. Coverage will be available on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.