Claremore, Okla. -- The No. 25-ranked Rogers State University Hillcats defeated the Mid-America Christian University Evangels 9-1 in the first game and then escaped with a 7-5 win in the nightcap to complete the doubleheader sweep Saturday afternoon (Apr. 21) in Claremore, Okla. 

Catcher Lance Rymer paced the Hillcats' offensive attack in the opener with a 3-of-3 effort at the plate with three RBI, while Colton Campbell was also 3-of-3 with a pair of runs driven in as RSU jumped on top early with two in the first and four more in the third.

Kory Palmer was 2-of-3 for MACU and plated the Evangels' lone run in the first game. 

The Evangels got on the board first in the nightcap on a lead-off homer by Shane Brinker, but the Hillcats answered back with two in the bottom of the frame and then a two-run home run by Emmanuel De La Cruz keyed a three-run second inning.

After RBI doubles by Cade McKewon and Eric Baker in the fourth made it 7-1, an RBI single by Palmer in the fifth and a run-scoring double from Dustin Carlsward in the sixth made it a four-run game. 

The Evangels then made it interesting in the seventh as a two-run single by Taylor Daniels cut the lead to two runs and a groundout put the tying runs in scoring position at second and third with two outs.  But a groundout out to second ended the threat as the Hillcats hung on for the win. 

Colby Crawford pitched six innings and allowed only three earned runs with six strikeouts. 

RSU hurler Kyle Duncan picked up the win after giving up five runs and striking out five. 

The Evangels will next play a non-conference doubleheader at Oklahoma Wesleyan starting at 2 p.m. Tuesday afternoon (Apr. 24) in Bartlesville, Okla.