February 22, 2026 – Emporia State baseball completed the sweep in their opening series of MIAA action with a 16-10 win on Sunday against Arkansas-Fort Smith.
HOW IT HAPPENED
For the first time in the series Emporia State did not score in the first frame, as both teams were held scoreless through the first and second innings. The Hornets finally broke through in the third, as
Cooper Schwindt drew a leadoff walk before scoring on an RBI double by
Logan Myers.
Emporia State added two more in the fourth, as
Frankie Santiago scored on a throwing error and
Brady Unrein drove in
Noah Steele with an RBI groundout to put the Hornets ahead 3-0.
Quinton Chindamo, who made his first career start for the Hornets, capped his day by facing the minimum in the fourth frame, as he allowed just one hit and struck out five in 4.0 innings of work.
The big inning for the Hornets came in the fifth, as they plated five runs. Three consecutive singles, including a sacrifice turned bunt hit by
Logan Myers, loaded the bases with no outs for
Evan Abbott. Abbott then capitalized in a big way, lifting a grand slam over the right field wall to make the score 7-0. The Hornets added another on a wild pitch to build an 8-0 advantage halfway through the game.
Arkansas-Fort Smith didn't go away however, as the Lions scored four in the fifth and three in the sixth to pull within one run of Emporia State heading to the late innings.
Emporia State then responded with three runs in the seventh, three in the eighth and two more in the ninth to pull away for the 16-10 win over the Lions to complete the series sweep.
A LOOK AT THE STATS
Emporia State scored multiple runs in five different innings in the game and had six players post multi-hit games.
Logan Myers and
Evan Abbott each had three hits, while Abbott and
Frankie Santiago both homered and drove in four runs each.
Brady Unrein and
Dylan Brisbois both drove in two runs of their own.
On the mound,
Quinton Chindamo pitched 4.0 shutout innings in the first start of his career and
Jake Khasaempanth picked up his third win in relief this season.
Grant Huffman pitched the final 2.0 innings and struck out three hitters while allowing two unearned runs.
UP NEXT
Emporia State will host Northwest Missouri on February 27-March 1 from the Trusler Sports Complex in their home opening series. First pitch in game one against the Bearcats is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. on Friday, February 27.
NOTES
The Hornets have opened the season 12-1, which extends their best start to a season since Emporia State won 15 straight and 20 of 21 to begin the 2011 season.
