CLAREMORE, Okla. — Rogers State baseball (8-3, 1-1 MIAA) dropped game two of its MIAA-opening series against Missouri Southern (5-6, 1-1 MIAA), falling 9-3 on Saturday at RCB Bank Sports Complex. RSU recorded eight hits, including a home run in the sixth inning, but could not overcome the Lions' early lead.
 
Missouri Southern jumped out to an early advantage, scoring three runs in the first inning and adding another run in the second with an RBI single to lead 4-0 after two innings. The Lions extended their lead further in the third inning with a sacrifice fly, followed by a solo home run and an RBI single in the fourth, making it a 7-0 game.
 
Rogers State responded in the sixth inning as Tyler Nelson and Sammy Harris reached base with bunt singles. Jake Mitchell's sacrifice fly scored Nelson, and Nathan Gutierrez hit a two-run homer, cutting the deficit to 8-3.
 
The Lions added their second home run of the game in the seventh inning, bringing the score to 9-3, where it remained until the final out.
 
Dillon Dibrell (2-1) started for RSU, pitching 3.1 innings with one strikeout and one walk. Cole Abbott relieved Dibrell, throwing 4.2 innings, striking out six, and issuing no walks. Elijah Knowlton closed the game, pitching a perfect ninth inning with one strikeout and no hits allowed.
 
Gutierrez made a significant impact with his second home run of the series. Kade Goeke contributed an extra-base hit with a double in the fifth, while Andres Contreras posted two hits in four at-bats.
 
RSU and MSSU will wrap up the three-game series tomorrow with the final at 1 p.m.