March 6, 2022 – Emporia State claims 8-7 victory over Fort Hay State in extra-inning rubber match to take the series victory.
The Hornets wasted no time getting on the scoreboard with a big first inning.
TJ Racherbaumer started the scoring for Emporia State with an RBI single.
Javier Pena followed with a two RBI double to score
Noah Geekie and Racherbaumer and give the Hornets a 3-0 lead.
Kadyn Williams capped the inning with his own RBI single to give Emporia State a 4-0 lead through one half inning.
Fort Hays State was able to fight back with runs scored in three consecutive innings to tie the game 4-4 heading to the eight inning.
Emporia State would go back in the front in the eight inning thanks to a two-out RBI double from
Dylan Werries down the left field line. Fort Hays State managed to score three runs of their own in the bottom half to take a 7-5 lead over the Hornets headed to the final at-bat for Emporia State.
After the leadoff man was unable to reach,
Blake Carroll cut the deficit in half with a line drive solo home run inside the foul pole down the right field line. After the Tigers were able to get another out,
TJ Racherbaumer launched his own solo shot over the scoreboard in right field to tie the game 7-7. The Hornets held the Tigers in the bottom of the ninth to send the game to extra innings.
Both teams were held scoreless for one extra frame before the Hornets went in front in the 11
th inning after
Javier Pena drove in
Sam Chaput with a sac fly to give the Hornets an 8-7 lead.
After allowing the leadoff man to reach base,
Noah Geekie settled down and retired three straight Tigers, including a strikeout to strand the tying run and give Emporia State the series win.
Jared Kengott tallied a no-decision in the game after going 6.0 innings allowing only 2 runs on three hits with a pair of strikeouts. Geekie received the win for the Hornets after going 3.1 scoreless innings allowing just 2 hits and striking out 5 Tigers.
TJ Racherbaumer and
Javier Pena highlighted the Hornet offense as they each recorded 3 hits on the afternoon. Pena had 3 RBI while Racherbaumer recorded 2 of his own.
Emporia State is scheduled for a midweek matchup against Southwestern Oklahoma on Tuesday, March 8 in Goddard, Kan. First pitch is scheduled for 11:30 a.m.
