UMD Baseball Heads to Claremore for Weekend Series vs. Rogers State
CLAREMORE, Okla. – The University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) baseball team begins a four-game series against Rogers State University (RSU) this weekend at the RCB Bank Sports Complex. The teams will play doubleheaders on both Friday, , and Saturday, , with games starting at 12:00 p.m. And 2:30 p.m. Each day.
This marks the first-ever meeting between the Bulldogs and the Hillcats. RSU competes in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA), and this will be UMD’s first contest against an MIAA opponent since a cancelled doubleheader against Northwest Missouri State University in . The Bulldogs did manage to play Missouri Southern State on , falling 7-0 despite out-hitting their opponent 9-8.
Rogers State enters the series with a 12-3 record overall and a 5-1 mark in MIAA play. They recently hosted the University of Mary, winning three of four games against them, including victories of 6-5 and 8-0, before a 5-1 loss in a 15-inning contest and a 6-4 win to close out the series. UMD faced Mary earlier this season, posting a 2-1 record against them in Bismarck.
The Hillcats are led offensively by senior infielder Tyler Nelson, who boasts a team-high .423 batting average and 22 hits. UMD will need to contain Nelson to have success against a potent RSU lineup.
UMD comes into the weekend series after a successful trip to Wayne, Nebraska, where they went 3-1 against Wayne State College. The Bulldogs secured 9-1 and 7-4 victories before a close 11-9 loss. They finished the series strong with a 12-5 win, outscoring Wayne State 37-21 and hitting over .300 in all four games. Notably, UMD committed five errors in their lone loss after playing errorless baseball in their three wins.
Offensively, UMD is paced by senior Henry Bushey, who currently holds a team-best .400 batting average with 10 hits and five doubles. Bushey has recorded a hit in each of his last six games, including three games with two or more hits, with a season-high of three against Wayne State on . He also leads the team with 12 RBIs.
Hayden Anthony is another key contributor to the Bulldogs’ offense, with a team-high 11 hits in 28 at-bats, resulting in a .393 batting average and a .643 slugging percentage.
On the mound, senior Ryan Watterman has been a reliable starter for UMD, logging a team-high 11.2 innings with a 1.20 WHIP and a 4.63 ERA. He has a 1-1 record with seven strikeouts and six earned runs allowed. Senior Henry Wilkinson has also made two starts, pitching 10.1 innings with a 4.35 ERA, a 1.74 WHIP, and nine strikeouts, also holding a 1-1 record.
Defensively, Troy Lynch leads the Bulldogs with 46 putouts and 47 catches, including a season-high 11 putouts against Augustana on .
The RCB Bank Sports Complex, home of the Hillcats’ softball and baseball programs, underwent recent improvements, including the installation of an artificial playing surface on the softball field and artificial turf on the baseball infield and foul areas. An indoor practice facility for multiple RSU teams is also in the planning stages. The complex seats 1,200 fans for baseball and 800 for softball, and is also regularly used by local high schools for tournaments and festivals.
The naming rights agreement between Rogers State University and RCB Bank, a five-year exclusive partnership, was finalized in . RCB Bank CEO and President Roger Mosier emphasized the importance of the university and its athletic programs to the Claremore community and the surrounding region, stating that showcasing the RCB Bank brand through this partnership is a key part of their growth strategy. RSU Interim President Dr. Mark Rasor expressed excitement about RCB Bank’s commitment to the university’s students, alumni, and fans, highlighting the partnership as a sign of a bright future for Rogers State University. The Hillcats softball team won the Division II National Championship in 2022.