February 7, 2025 – Emporia State baseball fell 6-2 against Ouachita Baptist on Friday afternoon as a four-run eighth helped the Tigers get past the Hornets.
Following a first inning with both teams retired in order, Emporia State struck first in the top of the second.
Noah Steele singled to lead off the inning, and eventually came around to score on an RBI single by
Jovanni Toledo.
Trent Warstler again retired the Tigers in order in the second before Ouachita Baptist answered back in the bottom of the third. The Tigers loaded the bases with one out and after consecutive RBI singles to take a 2-1 lead, Warstler limited the damage by retiring the next two hitters as Emporia State trailed 2-1 heading to the fourth.
Noah Steele again reached base as the leadoff hitter, as a double to left field started the fourth.
Andy Pacheco delivered for the Hornets with two outs, as an RBI single up the middle tied the score 2-2.
Both pitchers settled in over the next few innings, as
Trent Warstler completed six innings with the score remaining at 2-2. The Hornets had an opportunity in the seventh innings as they had two runners in scoring position with one out, before a lineout to third and a groundout ended the scoring threat.
Coby Rogers took over on the mound in the seventh inning for Warstler and stranded a leadoff walk to keep the score 2-2 heading to the eighth. Emporia State again put two runners on in the eighth, but a strike out and double play ended the frame with the score still tied.
Ouachita Baptist then rallied in the eighth, scoring four runs to take a 6-2 lead over the Hornets and Emporia State was retired in order in the last at-bat, falling to the Tigers on Friday afternoon.
Noah Steele and
Jovanni Toledo each tallied two hits while Steele scored both runs for the Hornets. Toledo and
Andy Pacheco each had an RBI in the game.
On the mound,
Trent Warstler earned a no-decision with a career-high six innings pitched while allowing two runs and picking up three strikeouts.
Emporia State will be back in action on Saturday, February 8 at 10:00 a.m. as they take on Southern Arkansas.
