March 8, 2026 – Emporia State fell into the seven-run deficit in the middle innings on Sunday and was unable to mount a comeback, falling 11-7 against #3 Pittsburg State in the series finale.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Pittsburg State jumped in front of the Hornets in the first inning, picking up two runs on four hits, but the Hornets responded with one run in both the second and third frames.
Brady Unrein put Emporia State on the board with an RBI double in the second and the Hornets scored on a running play in the third to pull back level with the Gorillas.
The trouble picked up again for the Hornets in the fourth, as the Gorillas scored three to take a 5-2 lead, and after scoreless fourth and fifth innings by Emporia State, Pittsburg State's lead swelled to 9-2 with four more runs in the sixth inning.
Emporia State finally cut back into the Pittsburg State lead in the bottom of the seventh on a two-out double by
Evan Abbott to make the score 9-3. The Hornets got a scoreless top of the eighth from
Grant Huffman, and then finally put together a big inning of their own in the bottom half.
A one-out single by
Noah Steele followed by walks from
Nathon Cruz and
Brady Unrein loaded the bases for Emporia State.
Dylan Brisbois entered as a pinch-hitter and drew a third consecutive walk to push across Steele and make the score 9-4. Following a Pittsburg State pitching change, the Gorillas were able to get the second out, bringing up
Tyler Coffin. Coffin delivered in just the third start of his career, clearing the bases with a double to bring the Hornets within two runs of Pittsburg State.
In the ninth, Pittsburg State doubled their lead, picking up two insurance runs on a homer by Isaac Webb to make the score 11-7.
Emporia State was unable to muster anything beyond a two-out walk in their last at-bat, as they fell to the third-ranked Gorillas.
A LOOK AT THE STATS
Pittsburg State held a 14-10 advantage over the Hornets in the hit column but drew five walks compared to just two for the Gorillas.
Evan Abbott went 3-5 with an RBI, marking his ninth multi-hit game of the season.
Tyler Coffin drove the first three runs of his career on his double in the eighth inning.
UP NEXT
Emporia State will hit the road for a three-game series against Central Oklahoma. The Hornets and Bronchos open the set on Friday, March 13 with a first pitch scheduled for 4:00 p.m.
