EMPORIA STATE GETS SERIES SPLIT WITH 8-6 WIN AT CSU-PUEBLO ON MONDAY

February 22, 2021-Emporia State scored three runs in the final two innings to post an 8-6 win at Colorado State-Pueblo and salvage a split of the four game series.
 
The Hornets got on the board first with a pair of runs in the third inning. With one out Blake Carroll walked and Cooper Minnick was hit by a pitch.  Chanler Bloomer delivered a single to right that scored Carroll and chased Thunderwolves starter Andrew Coverly.  Quinn Cherry then laced a double to left off reliever Blake Slaymaker to plate Minnick and give Emporia State a 2-0 lead.
 
CSU-Pueblo got on the board in the fourth inning when with the bases loaded Reggie Williams hit an RBI fielder's choice to third that scored Aidan Welch. The Pack then tied it in the fifth inning. Trey Vasquez led off with a single and stole second.  Hornet starter Zachary Ebert got a strike out and a ground out that allowed Vasquez to go to third before walking Ty Lewis.  After the walk Coleton Crisp came on in relief of Ebert and gave up a single to Logan Gibbons that scored Vasquez.
 
Williams gave CSU-P a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the sixth when he hit a two run home run.  Emporia State answered with three runs in the top of the seventh.  A single by Bloomer and walks to Noah Geekie and Sam Chaput loaded the bases with two outs.  Brady Michel then found the gap in left center for a double that cleared the bases and gave the Hornets a 5-4 lead.
 
Jarrett Seaton started the seventh on the hill for ESU and gave up singles to Lewis and Gibbons.  Minnick threw out Lewis trying to steal third.  After a Welch single put runners at first and third, Gibbons was thrown out at home 2-6-2 on an attempted double steal.  After a walk to Mike Gonzalez, Alex DeBey relieved Seaton for Emporia State and tossed a wild pitch that allowed the runners to move up to second and third. Adrian Martinez followed with a single to center and was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double, but not before two runners came home to give the Pack a 6-5 lead.
 
Bloomer worked a two out walk in the top of the eighth and then Cherry crushed a two run homer to left that gave Emporia State a 7-6 lead.  DeBey then worked a shutdown bottom of the eighth.
 
Chaput singled to lead off the top of the ninth while Michel and Brigham Mooney both walked to load the bases with one out.  Carroll then hit a fly ball to medium left field. Chaput tried to score and was awarded home when catcher Manny Sierra was called for interference for blocking the plate to give Emporia State an insurance run.  DeBey then retired the side in order in the bottom of the ninth to pick up the win and give the Hornets a split in the four game series.
 
Cherry was two for five with three RBI and a run scored while Michel went two for three with three RBI.  Bloomer was three for ffour with two runs and an RBI. Ebert allowed two runs on three hits in 4.1 innings with four strike outs and four walks in his first start for the Hornets. DeBey threw 2.1 innings of one hit relief to improve to 1-1 on the season.
 
Emppria State is scheduled to begin MIAA play on Saturday, February 27 when they travel to Missouri Southern.  First pitch of Saturday's double header is set for 1:00 p.m.