HORNETS FALL 8-7 IN FINAL GAME OF NORTHEASTERN STATE SERIES

April 26, 2021-Emporia State had the tying run thrown out at the plate in an 8-7 loss at Northeastern State on Monday afternoon.
 
The Hornets got on the board early as Blake Carroll led off with a single but was erased as Jack Maki hit into a fielder's choice.  Maki went to second on a passed ball and would score on a two out single by Chandler Bloomer.
 
The RiverHawks got a pair of solo home runs in the bottom of the second from CD White and Tucker Dunlap to take a 2-1 lead.
 
Emporia State tied it with another unearned run in the top of the fourth.  With one out Christian Roduner singled before Brigham Mooney reached on a fielder's choice.  Noah Geekie followed with a single to send Mooney to third.   NSU pitcher Jonahtan Smithey tried to pick Geekie off at first but the ball got away from the first baseman allowing Mooney to score.  The RiverHawks retook the lead in the bottom of the inning on a failed pick off by Hornet starter Drew Repp and led 3-2 after four innings.
 
Sam Chaput and Roduner led off the top of the sixth with back to back singles and with one out Geekie drove in Chaput with another single up the middle to tie the game.  One out later Kade Graff laid down a squeeze bunt that plated Roduner and gave Emporia State a 4-3 lead. Dunlap hit his second solo home run of the game with two outs in the bottom of the sixth to tie it back up at 4-4.
 
Geekie led off the top of the eighth with a single and went to second when Cooper Minnick drew a walk. Graff sacrificed them both over and Maki gave the Hornets a 5-4 lead with a sac fly.  Colton Crisp gave up two walks to start the bottom of the eighth and with one out Reid Fehr got an RBI single to tie the game at 5-5.  Zachary Ebert relieved Crisp and gave up a three run home run to Blaze Brothers as the RiverHawks took an 8-5 lead.
 
The Hornets tried to rally in the top of the ninth.  With one out Chaput and Roduner hit back to back singles to put runners on the corners.  A failed pick off by Dakodah Jones allowed Chaput to score and make it 8-6.  Mooney struck out before Geekie was hit by a pitch to put the tying run on base with two outs.  Ryan Krowlikowski pinch hit for Minnick and delivered a base hit down the right field line.  Roduner scored easily but Geekie was thrown out trying to score from first to end the game.
 
Geekie was three for four with a run scored and an RBI while Roduner went three for five with two runs scored.  Drew Repp started and allowed four runs, three earned, on six hits in 5.2 innings with six strikeouts. Crisp was credited with the loss giving up three runs on one hit with three walks while Ebert gave up one run on one hit in 0.2 innings.
 
Emporia State will return to the Trusler Sports Complex this weekend for the final three home games of the season against Fort Hays State.  First pitch of game one on Friday night is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on Glennen Field.