April 14, 2024 – Emporia State baseball limited #2 Central Missouri to five runs for the second straight game but were unable to get the bats going, as the Hornets fell 5-1 in the series finale on Sunday afternoon.
After a strikeout to start the game, the Mules were able to get to
Ian Lanik with a triple and an RBI single from Cole Moore to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. The Hornets went down in order in the first and after a solo home for Central Missouri in the second, trailed 2-0. Emporia State's first hit came on a one-out triple by
Dom Oliverio, his third of the season, but the Hornets were unable to convert the chance as the score remained 2-0 through two frames.
Ian Lanik kept Central Missouri scoreless in the third and fourth inning as the Hornets and Mules both went without a base runner in either inning. The Mules added to their total in the fifth, picking up two runs on two hits, including a solo home run by Carter Young.
Over the next four innings for Emporia State at the plate, the Hornets had a runner reach base in each inning, but continued to be held off the scoreboard as they entered the ninth trailing 4-0. Central Missouri added to their total in the final frame, getting one run on an RBI single by Josh Patrick to push the lead to 5-0 for the second-ranked Mules.
In the bottom of the ninth, Emporia State got their lone run on a solo home run by
Kadyn Williams, his ninth of the season. Following two strikeouts,
TJ Racherbaumer and
Jovanni Toledo drew back-to-back walks to apply some pressure to Central Missouri before a groundout ended the possible rally as Emporia State fell in the series finale 5-1 against #2 Central Missouri.
At the plate, the Hornets were limited to just four hits and eight base runners in the game.
Kadyn Williams drove in the lone run with his ninth inning solo home run, extending his on-base streak to 20 games.
On the mound,
Ian Lanik allowed four runs in 6.0 innings while striking out three Mules.
Eli Hernandez pitched the final three frames and allowed just one run on three hits with three strikeouts.
Emporia State will return to action on Tuesday, April 16 as they travel to Pittsburg State for a non conference matchup against the Gorillas. The next MIAA series for the Hornets will take place April 19-21 as they travel to take on Fort Hays State in a pivotal road series against the Tigers.
