The Emporia State baseball team split their doubleheader with Northeastern State on Friday at the Trusler Sports Complex in Emporia. The Hornets dropped game one 2-1 in 10 innings before blasting back for a 10-0 run rule in game two in seven innings. Pitching dominated the first game on a windy day at the ballpark with the teams combining for just eight total hits. Starter Cade Barton tossed 7.0 innings and allowed just three hits and one run in a no decision. Eli Hernandez (0-2) went 3.0 innings in relief surrendering two hits and one run but took the loss.
The Hornets jumped on the RiverHawks early in game two with five runs in the bottom of the first before tacking on four in the fourth and one in the seventh. Graham Brunner (2-1) pitched a complete game two-hit shutout for the Hornets while striking out seven Hawks in the win. Head coach Brad Hill said the excellent pitching sets ESU up well for next week.
Brunner said the biggest factor in the game was outside of his control.
E-State moves to 15-15 on the year with a 6-9 mark in the MIAA. With the Sunday game being moved to Friday with the predicted weather this weekend, the rubber match is Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
