April 16, 2022 – Emporia State falls 2-1 to Washburn in the series finale of the Turnpike Tussle on Saturday afternoon.
Noah Geekie took the hill for the Hornets on Saturday afternoon and retired the Ichabods in order to start the game. The Hornets would create trouble for the Ichabod starting pitcher in the bottom half of the first after a leadoff walk from
Sam Chaput followed by a single from
Blake Carroll.
Javier Pena would lay down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position, but the Hornets were unable to push a run across.
Emporia State would record at least one hit in each of the next three innings but were unable to score. The biggest chance for the Hornets came in the third inning when Emporia State was able to load the bases. A pair of singles from Chaput and Carroll, followed by
Javier Pena being hit by a pitch loaded the bases before the Ichabods were able to escape the inning.
The breakthrough for the Hornets finally came in the fifth inning.
Blake Carroll tripled to center field with one out. Carroll's second triple of the weekend moved him into a tie with Shawn Smith for third all-time at Emporia State with 14 for his career.
Javier Pena was then hit by a pitch for the second time of the game and then stole second base. After
TJ Racherbaumer drew a walk, a sacrifice fly from
Kadyn Williams gave the Hornets a 1-0 lead.
Noah Geekie continued to thrive on the mound, with the first Ichabod hit coming in the seventh inning on a single into left field. An error then allowed the runner to advance to second base. After a strikeout and a walk, the Ichabods scored their first run after a pop-up to into shallow left field fell in between three Hornets. Geekie bounced back to finish the inning and then record two more strikeouts in the eighth inning.
In the top of the ninth, the Ichabods took a 2-1 lead after a two-out double into left field. The Hornets then attempted to rally in the ninth after a one-out bunt single from
Quinn Cherry before a double play ended the hopes for the Hornets.
Noah Geekie went 8.2 innings allowing three hits and two earned runs while striking out 10 batters.
At the plate,
Blake Carroll went 3-4 with a triple and a run scored.
Sam Chaput went 2-3 with a walk and
Dylan Werries went 2-4.
