April 20, 2024 – Emporia State took an early lead and withstood efforts from Fort Hays State in the eighth and ninth inning before claiming the 7-5 win over the Tigers in ten frames on Saturday afternoon.
The Hornets quickly jumped in front as
Logan Myers drew a walk to lead off the game. After advancing around to third base with one out, Myers scored on an RBI double by
Dom Oliverio for the first run of the game.
Jovanni Toledo followed the Oliverio double with a two-strike RBI single to double the Emporia State advantage. After Hornet starting pitcher
Graham Brunner worked around two walks in the first to keep the Tigers off the board, Emporia State grabbed another run in the second on a two-out solo home run by
Logan Myers.
Emporia State maintained their 3-0 lead until the bottom of the third as the Tigers finally got to Brunner with a solo home run. The bats quieted down entering the middle innings, as both team went without a run in the fourth and fifth frames before Fort Hays State cut the deficit in half with their second home run to make the score 3-2.
Following a scoreless seventh, which included two strikeouts by Hornet reliever
Trent Warstler, Emporia State was able to add to their total in the eighth with a double steal with two outs that allowed
Brooks Whaley to come home from third base. In the bottom half, with the Tigers down to their final strike of the innings, Fort Hays State got a two-run home run to bring the game level at 4-4 heading to the ninth.
With two outs and a runner on second base in the ninth,
TJ Racherbaumer drove a 1-1 pitch into centerfield to bring the go-ahead run and put the Hornets ahead 5-4 heading to the bottom of the ninth. Fort Hays State was able to grab their fifth run on with two outs also, this time on a wild pitch, as the Hornets and Tigers went to the tenth tied at 5-5.
Brooks Whaley drew a leadoff walk in the tenth and after the first out of the frame, came in to score an RBI double by
Andrew Rantz. Rantz would eventually score on a wild pitch as Emporia State's lead doubled to 7-5 heading to the bottom half.
Trent Warstler returned to the mound for his fourth inning of work and after an infield single to leadoff the inning, Warstler got two strikeouts and a flyout to center to clinch the 7-5 Emporia State win.
At the plate,
TJ Racherbaumer went 3-5 with an RBI while
Andrew Rantz and
Logan Myers each went 2-5 with an RBI of their own. On the mound,
Graham Brunner got the no-decision with 6.0 innings pitched while allowed two runs with three strikeouts.
Trent Warstler picked up his second win of the season, pitching 4.0 innings of relief with six strikeouts.
With the win, the Hornets force a series finale rubber match on Sunday, April 21. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
