CLAREMORE, Okla. – Rogers State baseball (0-5) came up just short in a 8-7 game against Colorado School of Mines (7-0) in the third game of the series on Saturday.

The Orediggers jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning as a two RBI single to right brought in two runs. However, the Hillcats answered in the bottom half of the frame to knot things at 2-2. Jesse Holguin continued his hot start to the season as he drove in Gavin Mestas with a RBI single to right center. Holguin then scored on a Skylar Nelson RBI double to left center.

Both pitching staffs worked the next three innings with out giving up a run.

RSU took its first lead of the series at 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth. After Mestas doubled to left, he scored from second on a Prescott Horn RBI single to center.

Mines retook the lead in the sixth as they exploded for four runs to go up 6-3. A two-run homer to right scored the first two runs with the other two runs coming across on a two RBI triple off the center field wall.

The Hillcats refused to go down with out a fight as they matched the Orediggers with four runs of their on in the bottom half of the sixth to retake the lead 7-6. Jonathan Soto and A.J. Folds came in on a Rece Parker two RBI single to center. Throwing errors by both the second and third basemen on the same play brought in Mestas and Marco Barrera.

The Orediggers would tie it up and later retake the lead 8-7 with one run in both the seventh and eight inning. A leadoff solo shot in the seventh tied things up, and a throwing error by the third baseman scored the winning run in the eighth.

Blake Ripp (2-0) earned the win out of the bullpen. Jordan Ewig (0-1) took the loss.

Both teams will square off in the series finale tomorrow at the Diamond Sports Complex. First pitch is set for 12 p.m.