EMPORIA, Kan. (April 9, 2017) – Central Missouri built a 6-2 lead midway through the game, but Emporia State rallied late and earned a 9-8 walk-off win in the series finale on Sunday at Glennen Field. The Hornets scored 3 runs in the bottom of the ninth to earn the win.
The Hornets (27-8, 16-5 MIAA) jumped on top in the second when Taylor Sanagorski hit a two-run home run to right center.
The Mules (22-11, 13-8 MIAA) tied the game in the top of the third inning on
Justin Graff-Rowe's two-run single to center. UCM took the lead in the fourth on
Jackson Schnurbusch's leadoff home run.
Central Missouri extended the lead to 6-2, plating three runs in the top of the fifth inning.
Matt Elliott had a two-run single and later scored when Schnurbusch reached on an error by the ESU shortstop.
The Hornets answered in the home half of the inning scoring three runs on just one hit. They took advantage of two walks, two hit batters and a passed ball on a dropped third strike to get back within one at 6-5.
John Fairchild led off the top of the sixth with his first home run of the season and the lead was back to two at 7-5. An RBI groundout from Ryan McBroom in the seventh made it a one-run game again at 7-6.
Travis Able singled home pinch-runner
Noah Arni in the top of the eighth to make it 8-6 UCM.
The Mules took the 8-6 lead to the ninth, but Emporia State opened the inning with six consecutive batters reaching base and scored three runs for the walk-off win.
Able finished the day 3-for-4 with a triple and an RBI, while Graff-Rowe and Elliott each went 2-for-4 with two RBI.
Luke Mercer (2-1) suffered the loss after allowing three runs on four hits in the ninth.
Nathan Whitcomb (2-1) earned the win for Emporia State after pitching a scoreless top of the ninth.
The Mules return to action on Tuesday afternoon when they travel to Bolivar to take on Southwest Baptist at 2:30 p.m.
