The Emporia State baseball team brought the winning run to first base while loading the bases in the ninth but could not score in a 12-10 loss to Pittsburg State in game one of their midweek MIAA series at the Trusler Sports Complex on Tuesday. The Gorillas blasted ESU early with four runs in the first and another four in the third to take an 8-0 lead. The Hornets committed four errors in the game leading to three unearned runs for Pitt State. ESU showed life in the third with a three-home run inning that slashed the lead in half, but Pitt State pushed it back to six with two in the fourth. ESU got three back as Kadyn Williams homered for the second time in the game in the fourth. Williams ripped his third round-tripper with a two-run shot in the sixth to cut the deficit to one, but Pitt State plated two in the seventh to re-extend the lead. ESU got one in the eighth then loaded the bases with one out in the ninth but could not score. Seth Stover (2-2) lasted 2.2 innings and gave up six hits, eight runs, and six earned runs to take the loss. Eli Hernandez and Hayden Baumwart combined to shut out the Gorillas over the last three innings in relief while holding PSU to just two hits. Head coach Brad Hill said the team is competing well, but needs to turn that into wins.
Williams finished 4-for-5 with the three dingers and eight RBIs. ESU will look to end a four-game losing streak when they host Rogers State for a three-game set beginning Friday. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m.
