March 20, 2023 – Emporia State outlasted Northwest Missouri 13-11 on Monday afternoon in a high-scoring rubber match as the Hornets clinched the series victory over the Bearcats.
Both teams were held without a run in the opening frame and the first hit for Emporia State came with one out in the second inning as
Noah Geekie doubled into right field and advanced to third on an error. The Hornets were unable to drive in Geekie as the score remained tied 0-0 through two innings.
In the top of the third inning, the Hornets were retired in order before Northwest Missouri applied the pressure to Emporia State starter
Graham Brunner. Back-to-back hits advanced two runners into scoring position with one out before Brunner escaped the inning and stranded both runners to keep the game scoreless.
Emporia State would finally break through in the fourth with an eight-run inning, their largest single inning run total of the season. The scoring was started with a three-run home run by
TJ Racherbaumer to put the Hornets ahead 3-0.
Following the Racherbaumer home run, a bunt single from
Noah Geekie followed by a hit by pitch drawn from
Quinton Carlberg put two runners on base. Another bunt single, this time by
Kase Johnson followed the hit by pitch and a resulting throwing error allowed Geekie to score to give the Hornets a 4-0 lead. Following the bunt and throwing error,
Andrew Rantz singled to extend the Emporia State lead to 6-0.
The Hornets added two more runs in the inning behind a throwing error and a sacrifice fly from
Chandler Bloomer as Emporia State built an 8-0 lead over Northwest Missouri.
The Bearcats worked to trim the Hornet lead as they scored twice in the bottom of the fourth inning as Emporia State led 8-2 through four innings.
Across the next two innings, Northwest Missouri continued to trim the Emporia State advantage as the Hornets led 8-7 entering the seventh inning.
In the seventh, the Hornets jumped out to a quick start as
Quinton Carlberg hit a solo home run to left field double the Emporia State lead to 9-7. Following the Carlberg home run, a pair of walks and a fielding error loaded the bases for
Chandler Bloomer with one out. Bloomer capitalized with a grand slam to left field that bolstered the Hornet lead to 13-7.
Northwest Missouri was held scoreless in the bottom of the seventh, but once again trimmed the Hornet lead in the eighth inning. The Bearcats pushed across three runs and eventually loaded the bases, bringing the go-ahead run to the plate with two outs.
Greg Ross entered the game out of the bullpen and recorded a strikeout to strand the bases loaded and maintain a 13-10 lead for Emporia State.
In the ninth, Emporia State was held scoreless before the Bearcats came back to the plate. Northwest Missouri was able to pull one run back with a solo home run, but the Hornets were able to close out the game with a 13-11 win in the rubber match to clinch the series victory.
Eight different Hornets recorded a hit as
Chandler Bloomer and
Noah Geekie led the way with three hits each. Bloomer tallied five RBI while Racherbaumer drove in three with a three-run home run.
Andrew Rantz went 1-3 with two RBI and two walks.
Greg Ross picked up his fourth save of the season with 1.1 innings pitched to close the game.
The Hornets will return home for a midweek matchup against Northwestern Oklahoma on Wednesday, March 22 from Glennen Field. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
