March 26, 2023 – Emporia State fell to Missouri Southern 1-0 in the series finale as both teams combined for just eight hits.
The Hornets got the game started with a leadoff single from
Kadyn Williams. The Lions forced a double play before
Palmer Hutchison drew a walk and
TJ Racherbaumer singled to give the Hornets a runner in scoring position, the Hornets were held without a run.
In the bottom of the first, Emporia State pitcher
Noah Geekie settled in early on the mound as he retired Missouri Southern in order.
Emporia State used a
Mason Sturdy walk and a
Brenden Tauber single to advance two runners into scoring position but were once again held scoreless by the Lions.
Geekie allowed one of his two hits and two walks in the second inning but escaped the bases loaded jam to keep Missouri Southern off the scoreboard.
The pitching duel between Geekie and Missouri Southern continued as neither team recorded a hit until the Lions broke through in the fifth.
Despite Geekie recording two strikeouts in the inning, the Lions used an infield single and a pair of throwing errors to score on a sacrifice fly as they took a 1-0 lead over Emporia State through five innings.
The next hit for either team came in the top of the seventh inning as
Mason Sturdy and
Kase Johnson recorded back-to-back singles to start the inning. Sturdy and Johnson were left stranded following two flyouts and a fielder's choice as the Hornets remained behind 1-0 against the Lions.
Over the final two at-bats, the Hornets recorded just one hit as they were unable to tie the game as they fell to Missouri Southern 1-0.
Noah Geekie pitched 8.0 innings and allowed just one unearned run on two hits while striking out seven batters.
Six different Hornets recorded a hit as
Mason Sturdy and
Kase Johnson both went 1-3 with a walk.
Emporia State returns home for their next game on Tuesday, March 28 as they take on Pittsburg State in the second of three midweek matchups this season between the Hornets and Gorillas. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. from Glennen Field.
