ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western baseball team scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to walk-off against No. 15 Emporia State, 6-5, on Tuesday at Griffon Park. Cosimo Cannella’s sacrifice fly with one down in the bottom of the ninth plated the winning run for Griffon Baseball (16-8, 8-5).

Cannella’s game winner was set up by a tough at bat from Landon Mason to tie the game at five. Kody Matthews drew a one-out, pinch-hit walk then Ozzie Rodriguez followed with another walk, bringing Mason to the plate. Down 1-2, Mason fouled off six straight pitches before roping a double off the base of the fence in left that scored Michael Babbitt who was pinch running for Matthews. Emporia State intentionally walked Orencio Fisher to load the bases for Cannella, who sent a 1-0 pitch deep to center, scoring Marcus Brown who pinch ran for Rodriguez.

Emporia State jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the third, but Missouri Western tied it in the bottom half of the third on a three-run home run by Nick Gawley. Emporia added three more in the fifth to set up the showdown in the ninth.

Preston Bailey pitched the last two innings to pick up the win and move to 3-0 on the season. Bailey allowed one hit, walked one and struck out two. Mason finished 3-5 with the one run driven in. Cannella was 1-2 with two driven in and a run scored.

The Griffons get one day off before heading to Tahlequah, Oklahoma, for a three-game series at Northeastern State. Game one was moved up to Thursday.

— MWSU Athletics —