March 31, 2023 - Emporia State fell to Rogers State 10-6 in 11 innings in game one of the three-game series.
Both teams wasted little time tallying their first runs of the game as Rogers State started the game with a single and double to put two runners into scoring position. An RBI groundout from Prescott Horn and a sacrifice fly from Jesse Holguin gave the Hillcats a 2-0 lead.
The Hornets responded to the Hillcats with two runs of their own in the bottom of the second.
Kadyn Williams and
Chandler Bloomer started the inning with back-to-back walks.
Palmer Hutchison got Emporia State on the board with an RBI single to score Williams.
Following a strikeout,
Noah Geekie singled and stole second as the Hornets had two runners in scoring position. Hutchison scored on a wild pitch as Emporia State tied the game 2-2 through one inning.
In the second, Rogers State added two more runs with a solo home run from Gavin Mestas and a sacrifice fly from AJ Folds as the Hornets trailed 4-2.
The Hillcats added a run in both the third and fifth inning as they built a 6-2 lead over the Hornets.
Emporia State was held without another run by Rogers State starting pitcher Andres De Leon through the fifth inning, but the Hornets struck again the bottom of the sixth inning.
TJ Racherbaumer drew a leadoff walk before
Noah Geekie was hit by a pitch. Following a strikeout, back-to-back walks from
Jake Daneff and
Andrew Rantz drove in the third run of the game.
Brenden Tauber scored Geekie with a sacrifice fly to make the score 6-4 before
Kadyn Williams singled with two outs to score two runs and tie the game 6-6 through six innings.
Graham Brunner, who entered the game in the third inning for his first relief appearance of the season, held the Hillcats without a run in the seventh and eighth inning before turning over the pitching duties to
Greg Ross in the top of the ninth
In the ninth, despite allowing a walk and a single with one out, Ross held Rogers State scoreless as the Hornets came to the plate with a chance to walk-off the Hillcats.
Kadyn Williams singled to right field but was thrown out at second base following an accurate throw from the right fielder. The ninth inning ended with a pair of strikeouts as the Hornets and Hillcats went to extra innings.
Following a scoreless tenth inning from both teams, Rogers State broke through in the 11th with four runs on four hits and pair of Emporia State errors as the Hillcats took a 10-6 lead over the Hornets.
The Hornets drew a pair of walks in the final frame but were unable to mount a rally as the fell to Rogers State 10-6 in game one of the three-game series.
Kadyn Williams and
Noah Geekie both went 2-4 while Williams drove in two runs, drew two walks and scored a run.
Graham Brunner pitched 6.0 innings in relief allowing two runs and one earned run on six hits while striking out five batters.
Emporia State will take on Rogers State in game two of the series on Saturday, April 1. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. from Glennen Field.
