April 30, 2026 – Emporia State hit four home runs on their way to a 12-2 run-rule win over the visiting Northeastern State Riverhawks on Thursday at the Trusler Sports Complex.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Colby Deaver made his 14th start of the season and needed just eight pitches to retire the Riverhawks in order in the top of the first. In the bottom half, Emporia State used three walks, a pair of hit batters and a wild pitch to push two runs across for the early advantage.
Following a scoreless second and top of the third by Deaver, Emporia State responded with a five-run third.
The inning got started with back-to-back walks by
Evan Abbott and
Frankie Santiago, and after
Noah Steele wore a curveball to load the bases,
Nathon Cruz recorded a sac fly to make the score 3-0.
Dylan Brisbois then drew a walk to load the bases to set up
Brady Unrein. Unrein worked a 3-1 count before delivering the Hornets first hit of the day, a grand slam to left as Emporia State took a 7-0 lead.
Northeastern State was able to scrape across single runs in both the fourth and fifth innings to make the score 7-2 but Deaver held the Riverhawks there with scoreless sixth and seventh innings.
In the bottom of the sixth,
Logan Myers led off the frame with a hit-by-pitch and two batters later scored on a two-run home run by
Frankie Santiago, his 14th of the season to make the score 9-2.
After Deaver capped his outing with a 1-2-3 top of the seventh, Emporia State scored two more, this time on back-to-back home runs. With two outs,
Tyler Coffin and
Logan Myers both launched solo shots to make the score 11-2.
Rico Merlo took over for Deaver in the eighth and matched his career-high with three strikeouts in the frame. In the bottom half, the Hornets loaded the bases with one out, again setting up
Brady Unrein. Unrein again came through, this time with an RBI single to right field to seal the 12-2 run-rule win.
A LOOK AT THE STATS
Emporia State tallied nine hits with
Brady Unrein and
Noah Steele both tallying multi-hit games. The Hornets reached base a total of 21 times with eight walks and five hit batters in the game. Unrein drove in a career-high five RBI and recorded his first career grand slam.
Evan Abbott reached base three times and tallied a career-high four stolen bases.
On the mound,
Colby Deaver allowed two runs in 7.0 innings while striking out eight batters. Deaver's outing marked his ninth quality start of the season and his seventh outing with eight or more strikeouts. He also allowed no walks for the sixth time this season.
UP NEXT
Game two of the series is scheduled for Friday, May 1 at the Trusler Sports Complex. First pitch between the Hornets and Riverhawks is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
NOTES
Emporia State won their 20th MIAA game of the season, reaching 20 wins in conference play for the first time since 2018.
Emporia State hit four home runs in the game, the seventh time this season the Hornets have four or more home runs.
Evan Abbott's four steals are the ninth time since 2000 a Hornet has stolen four bases in a game.
