Hillcats shock No. 2 Southern Arkansas in Dugan Invitational finale

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Rogers State baseball (2-1) stunned No. 2 Southern Arkansas (3-1) and handed them their first loss of the season in a 4-2 victory to close out the Dugan Invitational on Monday. This is the highest ranked win in the NCAA era of Hillcat baseball.

Prescott Horn and Marco Barrera were named to the All-Tournament team. Horn went 5-for-10 with two RBI and a double across the three games, while Barrera went 4-for-8 with two RBI, a double, a home run and two stolen bases.

The Muleriders jumped on the board early to take a 1-0 lead with a two out solo homer over the left field wall in the first inning. They added another run in the top of the third to go up 2-0. The run came in on a fielder's choice to short.

The Hillcats responded in the bottom of the third to tie things at 2-2 with two runs of their own. Back-to-back singles from Gavin Mestas and Prescott Horn with one out put runners on first and second. Jesse Holguin plated Mestas with a RBI single through the right side of the infield. A groundout back to the pitcher moved Horn over to third with two outs. Jhonmy Martinez brought in Horn with a RBI single through the left side of the infield.

Both pitching staffs worked the next two frames without giving up a run, until RSU took a 3-2 lead with a run in the bottom of the sixth. Joel Escalante led off the inning with a single through the left side of the infield. Martinez doubled to right to put runners in scoring position with no outs. A.J. Folds scored Escalante with a sacrifice fly to center.

The Hillcats would seal the win with a final run in the bottom of the eighth to claim the 4-2 victory. Escalante walked to put a runner. Martinez reached on an error by the first baseman. A wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position with one out. Mitchell Smith brought in Escalante with a sacrifice fly to left.

Dean Grisham (1-0) earned his first win of the season working 2.0 shutout innings out of the bullpen and did not allow a hit or walk with one strikeout. Chance Bolter (0-1) suffered the loss giving up one earned run on two hits in 3.1 innings out of the bullpen.

The Hillcats will return to Diamond Sports Complex on Friday, Feb. 10 for the first time this season as they begin a three-game series against Rockhurst. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.