EMPORIA, Kan. – Griffon Baseball (14-14, 11-9) wore its rally caps to Emporia State (19-12, 13-7), overcoming a 7-0 deficit in game one of a doubleheader and nearly pulling off another comeback in game two.

GAME 1
Missouri Western 8, Emporia State 7

• The Griffons scored eight unanswered runs through the sixth, seventh and eighth innings to overcome a 7-0 deficit and pick up the win
• MWSU’s three relievers – Thomas Ruwe, Kellan Richards and Carson Dwyre – combined to allow just two hits and recorded 14 strikeouts over the final seven innings
• Dusty Stroup got the Griffons on the board and scored the first of three two-out MWSU runs in the sixth with a solo home run
• After Stroup’s blast, the next three Griffons got on base and two scored on Kyle Snuttjer’s single up the middle
• The Griffons scored two more two-out runs in the seventh on Zach Pych and Jordan Jackson singles
• Josh Robinson was hit by the first pitch in the eighth and Casey Danley tied the game four pitches later with a two-run blast to center
• Pych drove in what proved to be the winning run with a sacrifice fly in the eighth
• Thomas Ruwe relieved Roy Robles in the third and went 4 2/3, striking out eight and allowing just one hit and one run
• Richards struck out the two batters he faced to pick up the win and Dwyre struck out four of the six he faced to pick up his third save of the season
• Stroup was 3-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI
• Conrad McMahon, Fahd Shakeel and Brooks Day had two hits each

GAME 2
Emporia State 8, Missouri Western 5

• The Griffons, once again, mounted a comeback effort that fell short in the closing innings
• Missouri Western scored all five of its runs via home runs
• A pitcher’s duel through the first five innings, Jacob Purl held Emporia State to two hits through the first five while ESU’s Ryan Lee matched Purl’s efforts
• MWSU took a 2-1 lead on Will Jibas’ home run in the sixth, but the Hornets answered with four in the bottom of the sixth
• Down 5-2 in the seventh, Andrew Curry and Jordan Jackson hit back-to-back home runs to pull the Griffs within one
• With two out in the seventh, Wyatt Meyer pinch hit for Jibas and tied the game at five with a two-out, two-run homer to left center.
• Emporia State regained the lead, 6-5, on a wild pitch in the bottom of the seventh
• The Griffons got two into scoring position with one out in the eighth, but a pair of force outs left the runners on
• Emporia State added to its lead in the bottom of the eighth with the first three batters reaching and scoring two runs
• McMahon went 3-for-5 and was the only Griff with more than one hit

UP NEXT

• The two teams are scheduled to conclude the series on Saturday at noon.

— MWSU Athletics —