February 21, 2026 – Emporia State baseball clinched their MIAA opening series against Arkansas-Fort Smith on Saturday, winning game two 12-1 in eight innings.
HOW IT HAPPENED
For the second straight day,
Noah Steele got the scoring started in the top of the first, this time with an RBI single to make the score 1-0. On the mound,
Colby Deaver got the start and picked up where he left off. Deaver worked around a one-out single to strike out the side, the fourth time in four starts he has struck out the side.
Emporia State would double their advantage in the second, this time on an RBI single from
Logan Myers. Following a scoreless second from Deaver, Steele drove in another with a double into the right center gap. The lead then grew to 4-0 on an RBI from
Brady Unrein.
Deaver grew his strikeout total to five in the third with two more strikeouts, and the Hornets responded with another two runs in the top of the fourth. The two runs included a solo homer by
Frankie Santiago as Emporia State led 6-0.
The lone run for Arkansas-Fort Smith came in the bottom half as one hit and an error by the Hornets made the score 6-1. Emporia State would add another in the sixth to restore their six-run advantage before their biggest inning of the afternoon came in the top of the eighth.
Emporia State started the inning with the top of the order and the drew three consecutive walks to bring
Noah Steele to the plate. Steele, who had reached base in his previous four plate appearances, delivered a grand slam to push his RBI total to six in the game and make the score 11-1.
The inning continued with one more run for Emporia State after the grand slam, as
Nathon Cruz tripled and then later scored on a sacrifice fly from
Dylan Brisbois to cap the five-run inning.
Jayce Meyer stranded the bases loaded in the bottom of the eight, as the Hornets sealed the series with the 12-1 win.
A LOOK AT THE STATS
Emporia State had 12 hits, their third straight game in double figures and eight in 12 games this season.
Noah Steele and
Logan Myers each had three hits, with Steele driving in six runs, setting a new career high.
On the mound,
Colby Deaver had nine strikeouts in 5.0 innings and continued his stretch to begin the season without allowing an earned run.
Owen Ruge,
Grayson Barnes and
Jayce Meyer combined to pitched 3.0 scoreless relief innings.
UP NEXT
The series finale in Fort Smith is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 22 between the Hornets and Lions.
