April 2, 2026 – Emporia State homered three times in a six-run first frame on their way to a 19-4 run-rule win over Newman on Thursday from the Trusler Sports Complex.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Hornets needed just four batters to score four runs, as Logan Myers and Evan Abbott reached to leadoff the game before scoring on a blast to right field by Frankie Santiago to put the Hornets ahead 3-0. Noah Steele followed Santiago’s long ball with one of his own as the Emporia State lead grew to 4-0. Brady Unrein singled and then came around to score on a two-out home run by Dylan Brisbois to cap the six-run first inning.

Seth Stover made the start on the mound and despite a two-out single, the lone hit he allowed in the game, pitched a scoreless first inning.

Both teams went scoreless in the second before the offense resumed for Emporia State with a solo home run by Brady Unrein and a sac fly by Logan Myers to extend the lead to 8-0.

The second big inning of the game came in the top of the fourth, with Emporia State matching their second-highest single inning total this season by scoring nine runs. The Hornets used four hits, five walks, two hit batters on their way to a 17-0 advantage over the Jets.

Emporia State’s final two runs came on a Dominic Felix home run in the fifth and on an RBI from Brady Unrein in the seventh.

Newman scored a pair of runs in each of their final two at-bats before the Hornets sealed the 19-4 run-rule win in game one of the series.

A LOOK AT THE STATS

Five different Hornets recorded a home run while nine different players recorded a hit in the game. Brady Unrein went 6-6 at the plate with three RBI and three runs scored on his way to 11 total bases in the game.

Seth Stover tossed five shutout innings on the way to his fifth win of the season.

UP NEXT

Game two of the series between the Hornets and Jets is slated for a 12:00 p.m. start on Friday, April 3 from the Trusler Sports Complex.

NOTES

Brady Unrein’s six hits are the most in a single game in the Division II era for Emporia State. It also matches the MIAA single game record that was most recently recorded by John Prudhom of Central Missouri on April 30, 2022.

Brady Unrein tallied 11 total bases, the most since Noah Steele recorded 11 against Maryville on March 7, 2025.

Logan Myers’ walk in the second inning was the 89th of his career which tied Pete Villaescusa for eighth in program history.

April 3, 2026 – Emporia State baseball scored more than 15 runs for the fifth time this season on their way to a 16-1 run-rule win over Newman on Friday afternoon at the Trusler Sports Complex.

HOW IT HAPPENED

For the second straight game, Emporia State jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first before recording an out. Logan Myers, Evan Abbott and Frankie Santiago reached on two walks and a hit batter as the Jets threw nine straight balls to begin the game. Noah Steele then worked a 3-1 count before launching a ball to left for a grand slam.

In the bottom of the first, the Jets picked up an unearned run on one hit and a throwing error to make the score 4-1.

Emporia State scored in each of the next four frames, which included solo home runs by Dylan Brisbois, Evan Abbott, Logan Myers and Steele’s second of the game as the Hornets built a 9-1 advantage through the fifth.

Following a scoreless sixth inning, which capped Colby Deaver’s outing, the Hornets tacked on a second big inning in the seventh, scoring seven runs. Emporia State tallied six hits in the inning, which included three on a pair of home runs, with Evan Abbott hitting his second of the game.

Owen Ruge took over for Deaver in the bottom of the seventh and needed just six pitches to retire the Jets in order, sealing the 16-1 win.

A LOOK AT THE STATS

Three Hornets posted multi-hit games which included a 5-5 game with seven RBI from Noah Steele as he posted his fifth multi-home run game of his career. Evan Abbott also set a career-high with his first multi-home run game this season.

Colby Deaver pitched 6.0 innings and allowed just one unearned run while striking out eight batters. For Deaver, he has allowed no earned runs in seven starts while striking out eight or more in five separate outings this season.

UP NEXT

The series finale between the Hornets and Jets is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 4 from the Trusler Sports Complex.

NOTES

With his two home runs on Friday, Noah Steele has 26 home runs in his career which moves him to ninth in program history, surpassing Brad Bascue.

Emporia State’s seven home runs are the most since the Hornets hit seven on April 18, 2023.

April 4, 2026 – Emporia State baseball completed a three-game sweep over Newman on Saturday afternoon, taking the finale 23-5 over the Jets for their most runs in a game since 2021.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Emporia State sent eight to the plate in the top of the first, and despite going without a hit, the Hornets used four walks and a hit batter to push two runs across. Quinton Chindamo started on the mound and retired Newman in order in the first to solidify the 2-0 lead heading to the second.

In the second inning, the Hornets recorded their fourth inning of the weekend with six or more runs, scoring seven on six hits with three errors to take a 9-0 lead. The inning included an RBI from Cooper Schwindt and two from Noah Steele. The third inning saw five more runs for the Hornets on four hits and another Newman error to go ahead 14-0.

Newman got on the board with three runs in the bottom half before Emporia State answered with three of their own in the fourth to push the lead back to 17-3.

In the fifth, the Hornets scored six runs on five hits, extending their lead to 23-3. The Jets picked up another two runs in the bottom of the sixth, but the Hornets wrapped up the 23-5 win over the Jets.

A LOOK AT THE STATS

Ten different Hornets recorded a hit with Tyler Coffin going 4-4 with two RBI and Evan Abbott tallying three of his own while scoring five runs. Coffin, Nathon Cruz, Noah Steele and Brady Unrein all drove in two runs on the afternoon.

On the mound, Rico Merlo picked up his first win after pitching a shutout fourth frame.

UP NEXT

The Hornets will travel to Fort Hays State on Tuesday, April 7 for the second game of their midweek series against the Tigers. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.