April 6, 2023 – Emporia State scored in five different innings on their way to a 9-1 win over Newman from Wichita, Kan. in the first game of the three-game slate between the Hornets and Jets.
The game began with both teams being held scoreless in the first frame, as Hornet starting pitcher
Graham Brunner retired the Jets in order.
Noah Geekie jumpstarted the second inning with a leadoff triple before scoring on an RBI groundout from
TJ Racherbaumer to put the Hornets ahead 1-0.
In the bottom of the second Newman was able to respond for their lone run of the game as they tallied three hits and one walk against Brunner to tie the game 1-1.
Following a scoreless third inning,
Brenden Tauber led off the inning with an infield single before
Noah Geekie drew a one-out walk to put two runners on base.
With two outs in the inning,
Quinton Carlberg launched his team-high eighth home run of the season to give Emporia State a 4-1 lead over Newman in the fourth.
Graham Brunner worked around a leadoff double from Jason Schneider to keep the Hornet lead at three runs.
Emporia State expanded their three-run lead with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth.
Brenden Tauber recorded his second leadoff hit of the game as he doubled down the left field line.
Kadyn Williams laid down a sacrifice bunt before a throwing error allowed Tauber to score and
Noah Geekie to advance to third base.
TJ Racherbaumer quickly capitalized with a single to right field for his second RBI of the game as the Hornets led 6-1.
Brunner once again worked around a leadoff runner as he stranded a leadoff walk with a double play as Emporia State led the Jets 6-1 through six innings.
The Hornets started the seventh inning with a double from
Andrew Rantz before
Mason Sturdy swapped places with Rantz with a double of his own to give the Hornets a 7-1 lead.
For the third consecutive inning in the bottom of the seventh,
Graham Brunner allowed the leadoff batter to reach base before earning a pair of popups and his fourth strikeouts to keep Newman off the board as he finished his day with one run allowed on five hits.
In the bottom of the eighth,
Braden Meek took the mound for the Hornets and was able to strand the bases loaded with a strike out to maintain the 7-1 lead for Emporia State.
The final two runs of the game came in the top of the ninth for Emporia State as
Quinton Carlberg was hit by a pitch before
Palmer Hutchison drew a walk to put two runners on with no outs. Following the first out of the inning, back-to-back singles from
Mason Sturdy and
Chandler Bloomer extended the Emporia State advantage to 9-1 over the Jets.
Braden Meek returned to the mound in the bottom half and closed out the Jets with a pair of strikeouts to clinch the 9-1 win for Emporia State in game one of the series.
Seven different Hornets recorded a hit with
Brenden Tauber going 3-5 with a double and a run scored.
Mason Sturdy went 2-4 with a double of his own while driving in two runs.
Quinton Carlberg went 1-2 with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored.
TJ Racherbaumer went 1-4 with two RBI and a run scored.
On the mound,
Graham Brunner recorded his first win of the season as he went 7.0 innings and allowed just one run on five hits while striking out four batters.
Braden Meek pitched the final two innings in relief and recorded four strikeouts of his own which ties his season high.
Emporia State will take on Newman in game two of the series on Friday, April 7 from McCarthy Field in Wichita, Kan. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
