CLAREMORE, Okla. – Rogers State baseball (19-10, 7-9 MIAA) dropped the series final 9-1 to Central Missouri (21-8, 13-3 MIAA) on Sunday.
 
The game began as a pitcher's duel with neither starter giving up a run in the first two innings while scattering a combined three hits.
 
The Mules got on the board first with a leadoff homer well over the right field fence to start the third inning with a 1-0 lead.
 
They added two more runs in the top of the fifth to push out to a 3-0 advantage. Both runs scored on a single to right center.
 
UCM tacked on three more runs in the sixth to extend their lead to 6-0. A bases clearing double to right center brought in the runs.
 
The Hillcats ended the shutout bid as they pushed across a run in the home half of the sixth. Jhonmy Martinez earned a full count walk with two outs. Joel Escalante followed suit with his own eight-pitch walk. Gavin Mestas was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Ramon Torres dropped a ball into right field for a RBI single scoring Martinez.
 
The Mules sealed the 9-1 win with three final runs in the top of the ninth. A sacrifice fly to center plated the first run with a double to left center scoring the other two runs.
 
Cole LaLonde (1-0) earned the win. Rece Parker (4-1) took his first loss of the season.
 
The Hillcats will be back in action on Tuesday, March 28 as the play host to No. 7 Missouri Southern for the second game of the MIAA mid-week series. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.