The seventh-seeded Missouri Southern State University Lions came roaring back to force extra innings against the second-seeded Rogers State University Hillcats on Thursday evening in Claremore, Oklahoma, but a walk-off single in the 10th inning dashed their upset hopes in the NCAA Division II Central Region opener.
Trailing 3-0 after the Hillcats scored two in the fifth and one more in the sixth, the Lions showed their grit. A two-run seventh inning and a game-tying run in the eighth electrified the dugout, setting the stage for a dramatic finish. However, a one-out single in the bottom of the 10th handed RSU a 4-3 victory, keeping them alive in the winner's bracket.
The win sends Rogers State (3-1 against MSSU this season) into a Friday showdown with No. 3 University of Central Missouri at 6 p.m., with a spot in the regional title game on the line. Notably, the Hillcats have outscored the Lions by just four runs across four meetings, with two of those wins coming in extra innings—a testament to the fierce rivalry on display.
For Missouri Southern, the road continues Friday at 3 p.m. against No. 6 Minnesota State University-Mankato, which fell 3-0 to UCM on Thursday. These two teams met back on February 16, when Mankato—then ranked No. 13 nationally—eked out a 9-8 win in Joplin.
On the mound, Lions starter Owen Schneider delivered 5 ⅓ innings, allowing three runs on four hits and four walks while striking out one. Jackson Gamble followed with a scoreless inning of relief, fanning two but issuing two walks. Marcus Young took the loss after 3 ⅓ innings, surrendering a run on three hits and three walks.
Rogers State’s Zach Horwith was solid through 6 ⅔ innings, scattering seven hits and two runs with four strikeouts and two walks. Reliever Michael Klein closed the door with three perfect innings, securing the win despite not recording a strikeout.
Both teams finished with seven hits. For MSSU, Ethan Clark led the charge with two hits, while Blake Jones sparked the comeback with a two-run single in the seventh. Clark added an RBI sacrifice bunt in the eighth. For the Hillcats, Zak Nelson and Andres Contreras each collected two hits, with Nelson crossing the plate twice. Contreras, Jake Mitchell, and Trevor Spainhoward each drove in a run.