April 13, 2025 – Emporia State baseball struggled in the late innings on Sunday afternoon, as they fell 12-6 against Washburn in the series finale of the Turnpike Tussle.
Washburn took a first inning lead for the second straight game, as Payton McHarg homered to lead off the game and put the Ichabods ahead 1-0. Emporia State put their first two runners on base and eventually scored on a pickoff play as
Logan Myers tied the game 1-1.
The Ichabods scraped across single runs in the second and third to take a 3-1 lead over the Hornets. Emporia State would cut the deficit to 3-2 in the fifth, as
Elijah Reeves picked up an RBI for the third straight game.
In the sixth, Washburn restored their two-run advantage with a solo homer by Connor Scott and in the bottom half, the Hornets got a solo homer of their own by
Peyton Lewis to make the score 4-3.
Emporia State went to the bullpen in the seventh, and the Hornets struggled, giving up five runs in the seventh and eight over the last three innings. In the bottom of the eighth, with the Hornets trailing 10-3,
Noah Steele homered for the 11th time this season to make the score 10-6 and the Hornets brought the tying run into the on-deck circle but were unable to close the gap any further.
In the ninth, Emporia State loaded the bases with two outs but did not score as they fell 12-6.
The Hornets managed just eight hits, with
Logan Myers going 3-5, his fourth straight game with multiple hits.
Cade Barton allowed four runs on seven hits in 6.0 innings of work, marking his 13th game in the last two seasons with at least 6.0 innings pitched.
Emporia State's five-game home stand will wrap up on Tuesday, April 15 as they host Missouri Western in the rubber match of their midweek series. First pitch between the Hornets and Griffons is set for 5:00 p.m. at the Trusler Sports Complex.
