UAFS second baseman Logan Easley wasn't having the best of birthday's, but that all changed with one swing of the bat.

With the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the 10^th inning, Easley ripped his 1-1 pitch from Rogers State closer Brock Knoten down the left field line to drive in right fielder Logan Allen for the game-winning run as the Lions edged the Hillcats 2-1 at Crowder Field.

The extra-inning win secured the Heartland Conference series win for the Lions (19-15, 6-6), who split the series-opening doubleheader on Friday night. UAFS lost to Rogers State (24-12, 8-4) 13-9 in the opening game before winning the second game 5-0.

It was the third conference series win in four tries for UAFS, which had also beaten Rogers State 2-1 in a nonconference series earlier this season at The Diamond Complex in Claremore, Okla.

Tied at one run piece going into the bottom of the 10^th, Allen led off with a single to right field against Hillcats reliever Sean Robinson, who then walked shortstop Brandan Warner. Robinson was relieved by closer Brock Knoten.

A sacrifice bunt by first baseman Kyle Love moved Allen and Warner into scoring position before Knoten intentionally walked centerfielder Travis Young to load the bases. Knoten appeared he might get out of the jam after striking out designated hitter Daniel Demondesert for the second out, bringing the hitless Easley to the plate.

Easley, who had struck out, flied out twice and popped up in his previous four at-bats, took a first-pitch ball from Knoten, who leads the Hillcats with eight saves, and took a strike on the second pitch.

With the Hillcats infield drawn in, Easley ripped his third pitch perfectly down the left field line past the third base bag, allowing Allen to score easily. Easley's clutch hit was just his second hit with the bases-loaded in six attempts this season and his 11^th two-out hit.

It was the last of seven UAFS hits that included two extra-base hits. Allen was 3 for 5 with a double, Young was 1 for 4 with one RBI, driving in Allen for the Lions' first run on a two-out, RBI-single in the first inning. Left fielder Spencer Sackett was 1 for 4.

Still, UAFS left eight runners on base with six in scoring position.

Hillcats starter Preston Whitten allowed only one earned run on five hits with two walks and seven strikeouts over six innings. Robinson (0-2) allowed one earned run on one hit with two walks and two strikeouts over three-plus innings in suffering the loss.

The Hillcats pitchers retired the Lions in order four times, including the ninth inning.

Lions starter Cooper Van Kooten, who made his first start and 14^th appearance of the season, pitched eight strong innings, allowing one unearned run on seven hits with one walk and four strikeouts in earning a no-decision.

Rogers State scored its only run off Van Kooten in the second inning, when third baseman Nick Follett singled up the middle with one out. He scored when designated hitter Dylan Russell reached on a fielder error with two outs, advancing to third and then home on a throwing error.

Rogers State, which left eight runners on base, had the go-ahead run in scoring position five times – the last time in the ninth inning – but failed to score.

Lions reliever Foster Pace (3-2) earned the win, allowing no runs on no hits with one walks and four strikeouts over two innings of relief. He issued a leadoff walk to right fielder Griffin Keller in the ninth inning but retired the final six batters he faced, including four on strikeouts.
           
HEARTLAND CONFERENCE
UAFS 2, ROGERS STATE 1 (10 Innings)
Rogers State                010      000      000      0          --          1          7          0
UAFS                          100      000      000      1          --          2          7          2
Whitten, Robinson (7), Knoten (10) and Ford; Van Kooten, Pace (9) and Hurt. W – Pace, 3-2. L – Robinson, 0-2. HRs – None.