The Emporia High baseball team had multiple opportunities slip by in its doubleheader against Topeka High Friday at Soden’s Grove.
Topeka High rallied in the opener for a 3-2 victory and completed the sweep with a 5-2 victory in the finale.
In game one, Emporia High jumped out to a 2-0 lead through two after Andrew Ruxton scored on a passed ball, followed by an RBI single by Maddox Shivley. After that, Topeka High scored three in the fifth to hang on for the victory. Shivley went 2-for-3 at the plate. Chase Harrington took the loss on the mound, going four innings, and allowing two runs on two hits.
In game two, Topeka High jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first and never relinquished the lead. The closest the Spartans got was 3-2 in the sixth. In the fifth, Grady Howe had an RBI single and in the sixth, Madden Seidl had an RBI groundout. Topeka High tacked onto its lead in the seventh with a pair of runs. Ruxton went 2-for-3 at the plate. Owen Ruge took the loss on the mound, going 6 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on seven hits and 11 strikeouts.
Emporia High coach Anthony Markowitz said the Spartans had their chances against a quality Topeka High team.
Emporia High is now 4-6, 2-4 in Centennial League play. The Spartans head to McPherson for a quad on Tuesday.
