March 12, 2024 – Emporia State baseball nearly climbed out of an early 8-0 deficit as they fell 12-10 on Tuesday afternoon against Pittsburg State.
The visiting Gorillas jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the first inning and after a scoreless first for the Hornets and scoreless second for both teams, Pittsburg State added four more runs in the top of the third as the Hornets trailed 8-0.
In the bottom half, Emporia State put together a two-out rally that featured a single from
Drew Jennings and three straight home runs from
Kadyn Williams,
Patryk Hernandez and
Dom Oliverio as the Hornets cut the Pittsburg State lead in half.
In the fourth, Pittsburg State added two more runs as their lead increased to 10-4. With two outs in the bottom of the fourth,
Kadyn Williams secured his second career multi home run game with a three-run home run to make the score 10-7.
Following a scoreless fifth inning, Emporia State would grab two more runs in the sixth, as
Kadyn Williams launched his third home run of the game to centerfield as the Hornets trimmed the deficit to 10-9.
A Nixon Brannan home run and Carson Coffee RBI single restored the three-run lead as the Gorillas led 12-9 into the seventh inning stretch. Emporia State went scoreless in the seventh but after a scoreless eighth inning on the mound from the Hornets, Emporia State would grab another run in the bottom half. With two runners on, Williams stepped to the plate and doubled off the left center wall to drive in a run to trim the deficit to 12-10 entering the final frame.
Hayden Baumwart retired the Gorillas in order in the top of the ninth before the Hornets looked to rally in the bottom of the ninth. A one-out single from
TJ Racherbaumer, a pinch-hit single from
Jake Bucovetsky and a two-out walk from
Andrew Rantz loaded the bases for the Hornets, but Emporia State was held without a run as they fell 12-10.
Kadyn Williams went 4-5 with three runs scored and a career-high three home runs with eight RBI.
Drew Jennings,
Patryk Hernandez and
TJ Racherbaumer each had two hits while Hernandez and
Dom Oliverio each had a home run.
Emporia State will remain home into the weekend as they host Rogers State at Trusler Sports Complex. Game time for game one on Friday, March 15 is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
NOTES:
Kadyn Williams' three home run game is the first for a Hornet since
Mason Sturdy against Oklahoma Baptist on April 18, 2023.
Kadyn Williams' eight RBI are the most by a Hornet since
TJ Racherbaumer drove in eight runs against Newman on April 9, 2022.
The three straight home runs by
Kadyn Williams,
Patryk Hernandez and
Dom Oliverio in the third inning is the first time the Hornets have hit back-to-back-to-back home runs since April 9, 2002 against Newman.
