The Northwest Missouri baseball team scored the final 11 runs of the game to knock off Emporia State 11-5 at the Trusler Sports Complex in Emporia, Kan. on Friday in game one of a three-game series. The Hornets cruised to a 5-0 lead as Brady Unrein drove in a run on a double in the second to put the Black & Gold on the board. After scoring on a passed ball, Unrein drove in two more with a fourth-inning home run before Frankie Santiago doubled to make 5-0 through five innings. The Bearcats got it all back with four hits in the top of the sixth including three in a row. Northwest added one in the seventh, two in the eighth, and three in the ninth while the Hornets didn’t get a runner past second. Head coach John Martin said the team had their chances to minimize the damage in the sixth.
Seth Stover gave up five hits and two runs in five innings for a no decision. Rico Merlo (0-1) pitched one inning and took the loss. Unrein finished 3-for-4. ESU (12-2, 3-1 MIAA) continues its series with a doubleheader against the Bearcats Saturday beginning at 12:00 p.m.
