CLAREMORE, Okla. – The Rogers State Baseball team completed a series sweep of Newman University on Friday by defeating the Jets in a doubleheader 5-2 and 13-3 at the Diamond Sports Complex.
 
Rogers State took the lead in the first inning of game one on a RBI by Brandon Bradshaw with the bases loaded, as Christian Merriwether scored. In the next at bat, Nick Follett singled to score Zack Mann.
 
The Hillcats would add another run in the third inning as Mann, who got to third base after a walk, stolen base and a ground out by Bradshaw, scored on a passed ball.
 
Newman would get a run back in the fourth inning, but Rogers State responded with two more runs in the bottom of inning.
 
Mann brought in Dylan Russell with a single up the middle and then Grant Farris tripled to center field, scoring Mann.
 
The Jets would get one run back in the fifth, but Corey Murphy kept the visitors scoreless in the sixth inning and Brock Knoten pitched a scoreless seventh inning for his 10^th save of the season. Murphy earned his eighth win with three runs against on five hits and four walks. He finished with six strikeouts.
 
In game two, the visitors would score first with a run in the second inning on a single through the left side.
 
Rogers State would respond in the bottom half of the inning, fueling a two-out rally to score eight runs. With the bases loaded, Merriwether singled through the left side to score Brendan Griffith. Then Mann dropped a bunt down the third-base line to single and score Russell.
 
Farris, Bradshaw and Follett then drew three consecutive bases loaded walks to put the Hillcats ahead 5-1. Griffin Keller capped off the inning by hitting a bases-clearing double to center field.
 
In the third inning, Christopher Ford would score with a dropped pop up with two outs in the inning to put RSU ahead 9-1.
 
Newman would get its second run of the game in the fourth inning, as a run came across while the Hillcats turned a double play.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, Keller would hit a two-run homerun to right field, extending the Hillcats lead to 11-2.
 
Newman would answer with a run in the seventh inning, and then loaded the bases with just one out. However, Joey Lucas got the Hillcats out of the jam without allowing another run.
 
In the eighth inning, Keller would close out the game for the Hillcats with another bases-loaded double, this time hitting it off the left-centerfield fence to secure a 10-run rule victory.
 
Preston Whitten picked up the win, going 6.1 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits and four walks. He also had four strikeouts.
 
Lucas retired the final five outs in order with one strikeout.
 
Rogers State will return to action on Tuesday, hosting Northeastern State in a single game. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. at the Diamond Sports Complex.