February 15, 2026 – In a game that lasted more than four hours, Emporia State edged out (RV/#23) MSU Denver 10-9 in 12 innings in the final game of the Steve Anson Classic.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Emporia State got the scoring started in the first frame, as
Noah Steele singled with two outs to put the Hornets ahead 1-0. In the second, the Roadrunners also scored with two outs, as a three-run homer put MSU Denver ahead 3-1.
The Hornets responded quickly, scoring five in the bottom half, including four with two outs.
Logan Myers pushed across the first run with a bases loaded walk, and after the second out,
Frankie Santiago cleared the bases with a double to put the Hornets back in front 5-3.
Noah Steele duplicated his RBI single from the first and extended the lead to 6-3.
Following a scoreless third, MSU Denver closed the gap to 6-5 with two runs and later took a 7-6 lead in the top of the sixth. Emporia State threatened to retake the lead in the bottom half, as they loaded the bases with two outs, but left the bases loaded still trailing 7-6.
The Roadrunners added to their lead in each of the next two innings, as they took a 9-6 lead to the bottom of the eighth. Emporia State responded with another chance to score in the eighth, and
Noah Steele again came through with two outs, driving in a pair to close the deficit to 9-8.
Grant Huffman entered for the Hornets in the top of the ninth and struck out a pair to set up the Hornets in the bottom half. Emporia State found a way to pull level as
Sammy Padilla, who pinch ran for
Cooper Schwindt after a leadoff single, scored on a wild pitch to force extra innings.
MSU Denver led off the top of the tenth with a double, but Huffman eventually stranded the go-ahead run at third. Emporia State put their first two runners on but came away empty as the game continued into the 11th inning.
Both teams went scoreless in the 11th, with Emporia State leaving another two runners on base. In the 12th, the Roadrunners again picked up a leadoff double, but Huffman, who was now in his fourth inning of work, worked out of the situation for the second time.
Nathon Cruz made the first out with a diving stop down the line. Huffman then did the rest, catching a line drive and doubling off the runner to end the inning.
In the bottom half, the Hornets again put two runners on, as
Nathon Cruz and
Brady Unrein advanced into scoring position with one out.
Jovanni Toledo finally ended the game with a walk-off single down the left field line to clinch the 10-9 win over the 23rd-ranked Roadrunners.
A LOOK AT THE STATS
The Hornets had 13 hits while
Noah Steele and
Dominic Felix had three and two of their own. Steele went 3-5 with four RBI, while
Frankie Santiago drove in three runs of his own.
Grant Huffman, after picking up his second save in the first matchup with the Roadrunners, picked up his first win of the season behind 4.0 shutout relief innings that included three strikeouts.
UP NEXT
Emporia State opens MIAA action next weekend with a road trip to Arkansas-Fort Smith on February 20-22. First pitch in game one of the series is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Friday, February 20.
NOTE:
The Hornets 9-1 start is their best record after ten games since starting the 2011 season 15-0
