The Rogers State University baseball team suffered a tough loss, 3-1 to William Jewell Saturday morning but bounced back to beat Sterling College, 11-2 Saturday afternoon at Hillcat Field.
William Jewell plated single runs in the first, third and sixth innings to build a 3-0 lead. Right fielder Eric Bunch led off the RSU sixth inning with a double and scored on a double by third baseman Zack Bacon. However, the Hillcats were unable to muster another run as WJC closer Jesse McSpadden worked out of a seventh inning jam to earn the save. Junior Dusty Carriger (1-1) took the loss for RSU.
The Hillcats took out their frustrations from the loss on Sterling in the second game of the day. RSU jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning on a two-run home run by right fielder Travis Harold. Sterling responded with two runs in the top of third to tie the game, 2-2. The Hillcats regained the lead for good in the bottom of the third when Bunch led off the inning with a homer to right. RSU added another run in the third and four more in the fourth en route to an 11-2 victory.
Bunch finished the game 3-for-4 with three RBI. Harold went 3-for-3 with a run scored. RSU starter Bryan Hollenbeck (1-1) earned his first win of season. Reid Heskett pitched two innings of scoreless relief for the Hillcats.
Ron Bradley ‘s club improved its record to 4-3 on the season. The Hillcats are back in action on Sunday with a single game against Dakota Wesleyan at Hillcat Field. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.