Freshman second baseman Logan Easley's clutch two-run double in the top of the eighth inning drove in what turned into the game-winning run for the Lions, who out-lasted the Rogers State Hillcats 10-8 on Saturday at The Diamond Sports Complex in Claremore, Okla.

UAFS (13-6) won the three-game baseball series 2-1 after splitting the series-opening doubleheader on Friday. UAFS won the opener 4-3 in eight innings, but Rogers State (13-8) won the second game 7-5.

It was the fourth series win for the Lions, who are ranked No. 9 in the latest NCBWA Division II South Central Region Top 10.

UAFS led 7-6 going into the eighth inning, but Easley gave the Lions some much-needed breathing room with his one-out, two-run double that drove in pinch runner Parker Gavazzi and third baseman Brooks Sunny.

Rogers State added a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth to briefly cut its deficit tone run, but UAFS added an insurance run in the top of the ninth when Easley was hit by a pitch from Hillcats reliever Sean Robinson with the bases loaded to force in first baseman Trent Powell, who singled.

Lions reliever Cooper Van Kooten, who was called on for the third time this series, worked around a two-out single and error in the bottom of the ninth to retire the Hillcats side and end the game.

Lions reliever Foster Pace (1-2), who relieved starter Andrew McGlynn four batters into the fifth inning, earned the win, allowing one earned run on one hit with one walk and two strikeouts over two innings.

Van Kooten earned his third save, allowing only one hit over the final two innings.

Rogers State collected nine total hits. First baseman Grant Farris was 1 for 4 with two RBIs, shortstop Zack Mann was 1 for 3 with one RBI and second baseman Brendan Griffith was 3 for 5 with one RBI.

UAFS collected 13 hits off four of the five Rogers State pitchers. Easley was 1 for 4 with three RBIs, Powell was 3 for 4 with a home run and two RBIs, left fielder Tremarcus Koontz was 2 for 4 with one RBI, catcher Dylan Hurt was 2 for 4 and pinch hitter/second baseman Max Frazier was 1 for 2 with one RBI.

Rogers State starter Brock Knoten (0-1) suffered the loss, allowing five earned runs on seven hits with two walks and four strikeouts over three innings.
 
UAFS 10, ROGERS STATE 8
UAFS                          014      020      021      --          10        13        2
Rogers State                001      050      020      --          8          9          1
McGlynn, Pace (5), Lindley (7), Van Kooten (8) and Hurt; Knoten, Whitten (4), Edwards (8), Robinson (8), Woodward (9) and Ford. W – Pace, 1-2. L – Knoten, 0-1. HRs – UAFS, Powell (1).