March 29, 2026 – Timely defense and strong relief pitching helps Hornet Baseball to an 8-2 win over #15 Rogers State in the series finale on Sunday afternoon.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hornets broke their scoreless stretch in the top of the first as a pair of walks and a hit batter loaded the bases with one out.
Dylan Brisbois grounded to the left side to pick up an RBI fielder's choice, and a throwing error gave Emporia State a second run to take a 2-0 lead.
Rogers State loaded the bases with no outs but were limited to just one run by Hornet starter
Quinton Chindamo as the Hornets took a 2-1 lead to the second.
The score remained 2-1 until the Hillcats scored their second against Chindamo to tie the game as Woodcock came in to replace him. Woodcock quickly stranded the inherited runner to keep the score deadlocked at 2-2.
Emporia State answered the call in the top of the fifth to retake the lead.
Brady Unrein doubled with one out and then scored on an RBI single by
Logan Myers to put the Hornets ahead 3-2.
Woodcock put together a strong outing through the seventh inning, as the lefty scattered four hits over 3.2 innings to maintain the 3-2 lead. With one out in the seventh, the Hillcats hit one into the right field corner, but a 9-4-5 relay cut down the runner attempted to stretch it into a triple.
The Hornets offense doubled their lead in the eighth, again sparked by
Brady Unrein. The sophomore drew a two-out walk and then scored from first on an RBI double by
Dominic Felix to make the score 4-2.
Grant Huffman entered on the mound for Emporia State in the bottom of the eighth for his sixth save opportunity of the season and promptly retired Rogers State in order to send the game to the ninth.
In the ninth, Emporia State put together their first big inning of the weekend, scoring four runs on four hits, which included an RBI single by
Noah Steele and a three-run home run by
Tyler Coffin, the first of his career, to make the score 8-2. Huffman then capped his sixth save in as many opportunities with a scoreless ninth as the Hornets sealed the win in the series finale.
A LOOK AT THE STATS
Emporia State tallied ten hits, including three over the final three innings.
Evan Abbott went 3-5, recording his sixth three-hit game of the season.
Logan Myers had two of his own, which marks his 16th multi-hit game this season.
Abbott and
Brady Unrein each scored a pair of runs while
Tyler Coffin drove in three on his ninth-inning home run.
In the field, the Hornets matched a season-high with four double plays, which included a diving stop by Coffin in the ninth and an outfield assist by
Cooper Schwindt in the third inning, one of Schwindt's two outfield assists in the game.
Nick Woodcock and
Grant Huffman combined to pitch 5.1 shutout innings out of the bullpen. Woodcock earned his third win of the season and is up to 28 strikeouts in 21.0 innings pitched. Huffman pitched scoreless eighth and ninth frames for his sixth save of the season, which is the leading mark in the MIAA.
UP NEXT
Emporia State returns home for game two of their MIAA midweek series against Missouri Western. First pitch from Turnbull Field is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 31.
