HAYS, Kan. – Rogers State baseball (13-6, 2-5 MIAA) fell 11-5 in the first game of a three-game set against Fort Hays State (9-12, 2-5 MIAA) on Friday.
 
The Hillcats wasted no time getting on the board as they pushed across two runs in the first inning. Gavin Mestas led off the game with a single up the middle. Joel Escalante moved him over to second with a sacrifice bunt. Mestas then moved to third on a wild pitch. Prescott Horn brought him in with his own single up the middle, then stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Horn scored as Jesse Holguin grounded out to short.
 
The Tigers answered with two runs of their own in the home half to tie things at 2-2. The first run scored on a RBI single to third with the other run scoring on a RBI single to center.
 
RSU went back up 3-2 with a run in the second inning. Marco Barrera started the frame with a leadoff double. Carson Cheatwood moved him to second with a sacrifice bunt. Barrera scored on a fielding error by the second baseman.
 
FHSU again tied the game 3-3 in the bottom of the second. The tying run came in on a RBI single to right.
 
Two more runs came home in the third by the Hillcats to put then back in front 5-3. Escalante doubled down the left field line to start. Horn then singled up the middle to put runners at the corners. Holguin scored Escalante with a single through the right side of the infield. Jhonmy Martinez brought in Horn with a sacrifice bunt to first.
 
Once again, the Tigers counterpunched with two runs to tie things at 5-5. An RBI double and RBI single scored the two runs.
 
FHSU took their first lead at 6-5 adding a run in the bottom of the fourth. The run crossed home on a RBI double to left center.
 
The Tiger bats exploded for five runs in the sixth inning to extended their lead to 11-5. Three RBI singles and an RBI double plated the runs.
 
Daniel Bebee (2-0) earned the complete game win. Andres De Leon (2-3) took the loss.
 
The Hillcats will look to rebound in the second game of the series tomorrow. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.