February 26, 2022 – Emporia State fell in their 2022 MIAA opening game 4-0 against Northeastern State on Saturday afternoon at Glennen Field.
After setting the Riverhawks down in order in the top of the first inning, the Hornets were gifted a runner in scoring position after an error allowed
Blake Carroll to reach second base with one out. A passed ball on the first pitch to
Kadyn Williams advanced Carroll to third base with one out. However, Emporia State was set down with back-to-back strikeouts to close out the inning with the Hornets being held scoreless.
In the next inning, the Riverhawks would convert their opportunity with Tucker Dunlap recording an RBI single to give Northeastern State a 1-0 lead.
The Hornet pitching staff worked hard to keep the Riverhawks at bay, stranding multiple runners on base in five different innings throughout the game. In
Aaron Bechtel's final inning of the afternoon, he was able to strand two runners in scoring position with a strikeout against the Riverhawks' leadoff man Blaze Brothers. In the next inning, Northeastern State loaded the bases with two outs before
Braden Meek came out of the bullpen and forced a popup to
Kadyn Williams to leave three runners on.
Northeastern State was able to add two runs in the eighth inning thanks to a Matt Kaiser two-run home run and another run due to an RBI single in the ninth.
Aaron Bechtel went 6.0 innings for Emporia State allowing only 1 earned run while striking out 9 batters.
Emporia State will take on Northeastern State in game two on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
