Behind a quality pitching performance from starter Brett Brandon, the Emporia State baseball team held on for a 5-3 victory over Pittsburg State Wednesday night at Pittsburg.
Brandon went six strong innings for ESU, allowing just three runs and three hits while also striking out three. The senior left after the sixth with a 5-3 lead.
Relievers Daniel Waggoner and Mickey Lara held the advantage from there, combining for three scoreless innings to close out the game.
The Hornets struck first in the second, as consecutive singles by Nick Wolfe, Brian Majors, Andy Anderson and Tim Barger along with an error produced a 2-0 lead.
Chris Sharp’s RBI single pushed the cushion to 4-0 in the fourth, and Wolfe provided the final run in the seventh after walking, stealing second, then advancing two bases on errors.
Majors led the ESU offense, going 3-for-3 with two runs scored. Wolfe, Evans and Barger also had two hits each for the Hornets.
ESU had 12 hits in the nine-inning game and also stranded 13 runners.
The Hornets (18-14, 7-5 MIAA) will play host to Missouri Southern in doubleheaders on both Friday and Saturday. Friday’s games begin at 3 p.m. at the Trusler Sports Complex.
Wednesday at Pittsburg
ESU 5, PSU 3
Emporia State 020 200 100 — 5 12 0
Pittsburg State 000 030 000 — 3 5 3
W — Brandon. L — Porta. Sv — Lara.
E — PSU: Deao; Franklin; Hampton. DP — ESU 1; PSU 2. LOB — ESU 13; PSU 6. 2B — ESU: Wolfe; PSU: Franklin; Boan. HBP — ESU: Hernandez 3. SH — ESU: Sharp; Barger. SB — ESU: Majors 2.