ESU Advances to Baseball Championship Game

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (ESU Media Relations) -- Emporia State used 13 hits, including two home runs to defeat top seeded Central Missouri 7-3 in the MIAA Tournament at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Kan. With the win, the Hornets advance to their second MIAA Championship game in three years. First pitch Sunday is scheduled for 1 p.m.

ESU scored in the first inning as David Albritton and Chris Dobler both hit RBI singles to get the scoring started at 3-0. Travis Whipple then added a two run home run to give ESU a 5-0 lead int the third. Central responded by adding two runs on a Tyler Ruch single to cut the lead to three runs. Brett Schwarts would then single through the right side in the fifth to cut the lead to only two runs.

In the fifth inning Dobler addded a home run and his third RBI as ESU would stay ahead for good. The Hornets added their final tally in the eighth as Kenny Burkhead doubled and drove in a run.

At the plate for the Hornets, Dobler finished two for two with three RBI. Burkhead was three for five with two runs scored and a single RBI. Albritton finished three for five on the day as ESU's two through six hitters had ten of ESU's 13 hits.

On the mound Matt Robertson went six innings striking out two and allowing only six hits. Michael Cotter pitched 2.1 innings of relief before Drew Smith came on to earn his third save of the season inducing a double play to end the game.

The Hornets will face the winner of tonight's 7 p.m. loser's bracket final between Missouri Southern and Fort Hays State tomorrow at 1 p.m.