Rogers State overcame a five run deficit with a nine run seventh inning and cruised to a 12-5 win over Park University (Parkville, Mo.) on Wednesday at Hillcat Field.
The Pirates reached Hillcat starter Bryan Hollenbeck for five runs over the first three innings to take a 5-0 lead. RSU cut the lead to 5-3 with a run in the third inning and two more in the fourth. It remained a two-run game until the seventh when the Hillcats blew the game wide open.
RSU sent 14 hitters to the plate in the seventh frame and scored nine runs on seven hits. Eric Bunch, Zack Bacon, Greg Speed and Todd Koscheski all tallied RBI hits in the inning. Park used four pitchers to record three outs in the innings. When the dust settled, eight different Hillcats had scored in the inning and RSU had taken a commanding 12-5 lead.
Senior Brent Hill came on in relief of Hollenbeck with two outs in the third and pitched 5.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen. Hill (5-2) picked up the win in his first relief appearance on the season. Brett Trzcinski recorded two strikeouts in the ninth to finish the game.
Coach Ron Bradley’s club improved to 17-12 with the win. The Hillcats will host Hastings College on Saturday in a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.