SAN ANGELO, Texas – The Rogers State Baseball team moved one win away from advancing out of the South Central II Region, defeating host and No. 4 ranked Angelo State 9-8 Friday night in the first game of a best-of-three series between the two programs in the NCAA Tournament.

The Hillcats had to fight off a major comeback attempt from Angelo State, who tied the game in the top of the eighth with a three-run home run.

Christian Merriwether worked a leadoff walk to begin the bottom of the eighth inning and Zack Mann followed with another walk to put runners on first and second. Grant Farris then...