February 23, 2023 – Emporia State struck first against Northeastern State in their MIAA opener but were unable to hold the one-run advantage as the Hornets fell 2-1 against the Riverhawks on Thursday afternoon from Tahlequah, Okla.
Jake Bucovetsky got things started for the Hornets in the first inning with a one-out single and advanced to third following a walk and a fielder's choice from
Gibrian Pena. With two outs, the Hornets executed a delayed steal as Pena stole second base which also allowed Bucovetsky to steal home on a late throw to second base.
With the early lead,
Graham Brunner kept the Riverhawks in check with four strikeouts through four scoreless innings to begin the game.
Northeastern State finally notched a run against Brunner following a two-out single in the bottom of the fifth inning.
In the sixth, the Hornets went to the bullpen but were unable to keep Northeastern State off the scoreboard as they recorded an RBI double to take the lead 2-1 over Emporia State.
The Hornets were able to limit the Riverhawks to a single run in the inning as they escaped a bases loaded jam with no outs to send the game to the seventh inning.
Emporia State applied the pressure in the top of the seventh as they drew back-to-back one out walks and later drew a third walk with two outs to load the bases.
The Hornets nearly regained the lead over the Riverhawks as Pena drove a ball into right field that was stopped by a diving catch as the Hornets still trailed 2-1.
Northeastern State was held scoreless in the bottom of the seventh before the Hornets once again nearly erased the deficit in the top of the eighth.
With two outs and two runners on with the tying run at second base,
Brenden Tauber singled into left field but the tying run was thrown out at the plate as the Hornets remained behind the Riverhawks by a lone run, trailing 2-1.
Following a scoreless home half of the eighth inning for Northeastern State, Emporia State had one final opportunity to tie the game.
The Hornets advanced a runner to third base with two outs in the top of the ninth but were unable to bring the tying run home as Emporia State fell 2-1 against Northeastern State on Thursday afternoon.
Emporia State tallied five hits, with five different Hornets recorded one each in the game.
Jake Bucovetsky scored the lone run for Emporia State as he went 1-4 with a walk.
The Hornets will continue their three-game series against Northeastern State on Friday, February 24 from Tahlequah, Okla. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
