March 7, 2025 – Emporia State split their Friday doubleheader in St. Louis, falling in game one 4-3 against Hillsdale before bouncing back with an 18-11 win over Maryville in game two.
Game 1 (ESU 3, HC 4)
Emporia State got the day started with two hits in the top of the first but left both stranded to keep the game scoreless. Hillsdale put the first run on the board in the bottom of the second, as a bases loaded double play put the Chargers ahead 1-0.
The Hornets answered back in the top of the third, as
Logan Myers homered for the third time this season to tie the game 1-1. Hillsdale was able to respond in the bottom half, as a two-out single by Kent put the Chargers back in front 2-1 through three frames.
The score remained 2-1, and Hillsdale was held without a baserunner in both the fourth and fifth innings by
Gerardo Grijalva, who was making his first career start for the Hornets.
Both teams would get back on the board in the sixth, as Emporia State pulled level in the top half with
Brady Unrein coming around to score on a fielding error by the Chargers. Hillsdale would restore a 3-2 advantage in the bottom half behind a sac fly that sent the Hornets to the bullpen as
Eli Hernandez replaced Grijalva. Hernandez would strand two runners to keep the score at 3-2 heading to the late innings.
In the seventh, Emporia State pulled back level with the Chargers, as
Cooper Schwindt lifted a sac fly to centerfield, scoring Myers to make the score 3-3.
Hernandez returned to the mound in the seventh, a despite a one-out double for Hillsdale, the senior struck out the side to keep the score knotted at 3-3. In the eighth, Hernandez again faced trouble, as the Chargers got a leadoff double from Kent, but the Hornet reliever picked up two more strikeouts, stranding the runner at second.
The Hornets were retired in order in the top of the ninth, and in the bottom half, with two outs in the inning, Hillsdale got a walk-off home run to take the 4-3 win over the Hornets.
Gerardo Grijalva made his first career start and went 5.1 innings allowing three runs and two earned on four hits.
Eli Hernandez pitched 3.1 innings and struck out six batters.
At the plate,
Logan Myers and
TJ Racherbaumer each had two hits, while Racherbaumer reached base four times.
Game 2 (ESU 18, MU 11)
Emporia State got the scoring started against the Saints in game two, as a single by
TJ Racherbaumer put the Hornets ahead 1-0 in the top of the first. After Maryville responded with a run of their own in the bottom half, Emporia State put together the most runs in an inning this season, scoring six in the second frame.
The Hornets put the first three runners on base to open the inning, and
Sammy Padillas cleared the bases with a triple to left center to give Emporia State a 4-1 advantage. After the first out of the inning, a pair of hit batters loaded the bases. A throwing error and a wild pitch pushed two runs across, before an RBI single by
Noah Steele capped off the six-run second frame to make the score 7-1.
Maryville scored two in the bottom half to make the score 7-3, and after a scoreless third for Emporia State, the Saints rallied for five runs on four hits, taking their first lead of the game 8-7 over the Hornets.
Emporia State answered back in the fourth, as solo home runs by
Noah Steele and
Dominic Felix put the Hornets back ahead 9-8.
Ryan Sauter, who entered in relief in the third, retired Maryville in order in the bottom of the fourth and the Hornets added two more to their total in the top of the fifth. Following a leadoff double by
Logan Myers,
Andy Pacheco hit his first career home run to bolster the Emporia State lead to 11-8.
Sauter returned to the mound and retired the next five batters into the seventh inning before a two-out rally brought the Saints back level at 11-11 heading to the eighth.
The Hornets again responded to a push by the Saints, as RBI singles from
Dominic Felix and
Jovanni Toledo restored the lead for Emporia State, as the Hornets went ahead 13-11.
Ian Lanik took over in relief in the eight and stranded a pair of two-out hits to keep the 13-11 lead intact.
Emporia State added to their total with five insurance runs on five hits, including home runs from
TJ Racherbaumer,
Noah Steele and
Brady Unrein as the Hornets built an 18-11 lead over the Saints. Lanik returned to the mound, and despite a leadoff double, held Maryville scoreless to seal the 18-11 win in game two.
Six different Hornets had multi-hit games, including
Noah Steele who went 5-6 with two home runs, three RBI and three runs scored.
Sammy Padilla also had three RBI on his second-inning triple.
Andy Pacheco,
TJ Racherbaumer and
Brady Unrein each had two RBI of their own.
On the mound,
Ryan Sauter pitched a career-high 4.1 innings in relief and struck out a career-high four batters for his first career win.
Ian Lanik pitched two scoreless innings with three strikeouts, his third relief appearance this season with three strikeouts.
Emporia State will continue their stay in St. Louis on Saturday, March 8 as they take on Hillsdale. First pitch between the Hornets and Chargers is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
NOTES:
Emporia State's 21 hits are the most in game since February 17, 2018, when they tallied 22 against Newman.
It is the first game since April 18, 2023 against Oklahoma Baptist that the Hornets have recorded at least 20 hits.
TJ Racherbaumer now has 546 career at-bats, passing Mike Warren for seventh-most in Emporia State history.
