March 30, 2025 – Emporia State baseball outlasted Missouri Southern in a pitcher's dual on Sunday afternoon to take a 2-0 win in game three, securing their first series win over the Lions since 2020.
Both teams were scoreless in the first frame, as
Cade Barton stranded a two-out double in the bottom half of the inning. In the top of the second, Emporia State got singles from
Noah Steele and
Dominic Felix before a two-out double by
Sammy Padilla put the Hornets ahead 1-0.
In the third inning, the Lions got two hits against Barton and threatened to score before
Elijah Reeves threw out the possibly tying run at home plate to end the inning.
After the Hornets and Lions were retired in order in the fourth, Emporia State nearly added to their total in the fifth. The Hornets loaded the bases with one out, but the left all three on base as the score remained 1-0.
Barton continued to control the Lions offense through the seventh inning, before Missouri Southern threatened in the eighth. After a lead off single and a sacrifice bunt to move the runner into scoring position. The Hornets made the move to the bullpen for
Nick Woodcock. After allowing the first batter he faced to reach, Woodcock picked up two outs to strand both runners and maintain the 1-0 lead.
In the ninth, Emporia State was able to push across a second run, as
Elijah Reeves singled with two outs to make the score 2-0. The lead off hitter for Missouri Southern reached in the bottom half, but Woodcock retired the next three hitters, including two strikeouts to seal his second save of the season and the series win for Emporia State.
Peyton Lewis and
Sammy Padilla each had two hits while Padilla and Reeves had an RBI for the Hornets.
Cade Barton went 7.1 innings and allowed no runs on six hits while striking out two. This is his 11th start over the past two seasons with at least 6.0 innings pitched and is his fourth win of the season.
Nick Woodcock recorded the final five outs and picked up his second save.
Emporia State's series win over Missouri Southern is the first series win over the Lions since 2020 and the first time the Hornets have three straight weekend series' since the 2019 season.
The Hornets' road trip will continue on Tuesday, April 1 as they travel to St. Joseph, Mo. for a midweek matchup against Missouri Western. Emporia State will look to clinch the midweek series against the Griffons with first pitch on Tuesday scheduled for 5:00 p.m.
