CLAREMORE, Okla. – Rogers State baseball (15-14, 9-7 MIAA) fell 5-4 in the series finale to No. 6 Central Missouri (22-3, 16-0 MIAA) on Sunday.

The Hillcats got on the board first as they took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Gavin Mestas crossed home on a RBI groundout to second by Jonathan Soto. The Mules responded with a run of their own in the bottom half to tie it at 1-1 on a RBI double down the left field line.

RSU retook the lead 2-1 in the top of the third as they pushed across another run. Mestas scored again, this time as a runner was caught stealing second.

UCM again tied it up at 2-2 with a run in the bottom of the fifth. The run came in on a RBI groundout to first.

The Hillcats responded with two runs in the top of the sixth to push back out to a 4-2 lead. Jesse Holguin scored on an error by the pitcher. Prescott Horn later drove in Skyler Nelson with a sacrifice fly to right. The Mules answered back with two runs of their own to retie the game at 4-4. The first run scored on a RBI bunt groundout back to the pitcher, with the other run scoring on a RBI double down the left field line.

In the bottom of the eighth, UCM took their first lead and sealed the win 5-4 with an RBI triple down the right field line.

Josh Bortka (1-0) earned the win, with Brady Gavin (2) earning the save. Rece Parker (1-3) took the loss.

The Hillcats return to action on Tuesday, March 29 as they travel to Joplin, Mo. for the second game in the mid-week conference series with Missouri Southern. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.