April 19, 2026 – Emporia State baseball rallied from a 4-1 deficit, using a two-run homer by
Noah Steele in the ninth to walk off #16 Central Missouri 6-4, clinching the series win over the Mules.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Quinton Chindamo got the start in the series finale and settled in from the jump as he retired the Mules in order in the first.
Logan Myers reached on a hit-by-pitch to open the home half, but the Hornets were kept off the board in the first.
After Chindamo forced a trio of groundouts, the Hornets got on the board in their second chance at the plate to take a 1-0 lead. Chindamo continued his strong start to the game, again retiring Central Missouri in order the next two innings to hold the 1-0 lead.
Central Missouri's breakthrough came in the fifth, scoring three runs on two hits and two walks to take the 3-1 advantage.
Logan Myers led off the bottom half with his 41st career double, moving him into a tie for sixth in program history, but the Hornets were unable to convert the chance and remained behind 3-1.
In the sixth, the lead grew to its largest total of the game as the Mules added a run on a two-out double to take a 4-1 lead.
Brady Unrein opened the bottom half with a leadoff walk, and two batters later scored on
Dominic Felix's fourth home run of the season to cut the deficit to 4-3.
Nick Woodcock, who relieved Chindamo to end the fifth, struck out the side in the seventh and quickly brought the Hornets back to the plate.
Tyler Coffin reached base to lead off the inning, and after advancing to third, scored on a two-out single by
Brady Unrein to tie the game 4-4.
Woodcock came back out in the eighth, retiring Mules in order to cap 3.1 innings on the mound with one run and six strikeouts. The Hornets would move a runner into scoring position in the eighth but were unable to convert as the game went to the ninth knotted at 4-4.
In the ninth, Central Missouri reached with one out on an error after
Grant Huffman took over to begin the frame. The Mules went to a pinch-runner at first, and after two balls, attempted to take second base but were caught by
Dylan Brisbois to erase the threat. Central Missouri picked up a two-out single by Huffman then forced a ground ball to get out of the inning.
Gus Keller, who entered in the seventh to lay down a sac bunt, drew a leadoff walk to open the bottom half.
Noah Steele followed Keller, and just like his first at-bat of the weekend delivered a two-run home run for the walkoff winner as Emporia State won the series with a 6-4 win.
A LOOK AT THE STATS
Emporia State had six hits and six walks with
Brady Unrein going 2-2 with two walks to reach in all four plate appearances.
Noah Steele and
Dominic Felix each drove in two runs with the home runs on the day.
On the mound,
Grant Huffman pitched a scoreless top of the ninth for his second win of the season, while recording his 15th outing this season with no earned runs.
Nick Woodcock recorded six strikeouts for the second straight outing, as he pitched 3.1 innings in relief.
UP NEXT
Emporia State will host Fort Hays State on Tuesday, April 21 in the rubber match of the series between the Hornets and Tigers. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
NOTES
Noah Steele's walkoff home runs is the 29th of his career, which ties Keith Hernandez for sixth in program history.
Logan Myers drew two walks to give him 97 in his career, which ties Steve Bartow for fith in program history. Myers also doubled in the fifth which is the 41st of his career, tying Mike Carlson for sixth in program history.
