The Emporia State baseball team headed into this weekend’s MIAA Tournament firmly planted on the NCAA Tournament bubble.
They left it with a bang — and also an automatic bid to the NCAAs — as Matt Marasco’s walkoff home run led off the ninth inning in the Hornets’ 7-6 victory over No. 7 Central Missouri in the championship game of the MIAA Tournament Sunday in Warrensburg, Mo.
“We’re very proud of what the guys have done,” ESU coach Bob Fornelli said. “They’ve battled through a lot of adversity this year and withstood it all. To find a way to do what we did (Sunday) was amazing.”
The win snapped UCM’s streak of seven consecutive tournament championships. ESU earned the No. 4 seed in the North Central Regional, which will be played in Warrensburg, Mo., this week. Minnesota-Mankato is the top seed.
The Hornets (39-22), who had to sweep a four-game series with Truman last week to even make the conference tournament, capped off their weekend with two consecutive wins against the Mules on Sunday after losing to them on Friday.
ESU beat UCM, 8-4, earlier on Sunday to force a second championship game.
“This team could have quit so many times, could have backed down from challenges so many times,” Fornelli said, “but they just kept fighting and kept believing.”
This will be ESU’s fourth straight trip to the NCAA Tournament.
ESU defeated UCM in the second game on Sunday after rallying to take the lead in the eighth.
Trailing 4-2, Billy Sharp drew a one-out walk, and Nick Wolfe followed with a homer to left to tie it at 4.
Tim Barger later provided a two-out double, and after two walks, Mark McBratney delivered a two-RBI single to right to give the Hornets a 6-4 advantage.
Then in the top of the ninth, ESU’s Trent Lare allowed a two-run double to Josh Paul before Marasco ended it in the bottom of the frame.
The junior, who was the first hitter of the inning, managed to put the ball just over the fence in left to give ESU the win and the tournament championship.
“It was one where you watch and you keep hoping and hoping it was going to get over,” Fornelli said, “and sure enough it got over.”
McBratney went 3-for-4 with four RBI, while Barger and Andy Anderson both added two hits.
ESU also benefited from damage control in the fifth, as Ty Reese came out of the bullpen with the bases loaded and none out in a 2-2 game.
Reese forced the next three batters to pop out to escape the jam without giving up a run.
The Hornets might have still made the Regional tournament had they lost in the championship, but Fornelli said they didn’t want to leave anything to chance.
“I told them, ‘If you want to make sure we’re in the Regional, we’ve got to win that last game,’” Fornelli said. “Boy, they just kept fighting and fighting and kept battling and found a way to win it.”
ESU will start Regional play on Thursday in Warrensburg.
Second Championship Game
ESU 7, UCM 6
Central Missouri 000 020 112 — 6 15 0
Emporia State 000 020 041 — 7 10 1
W — Lare. L — Wyatt.
E — ESU: Majors. DP — Hornets 1. LOB — Mules 10; Hornets 10. 2B — UCM: Paul; ESU: Barger. HR — UCM: Dykins 2; ESU: Marasco; Wolfe. HBP — UCM: Mochizuki; ESU: Crumbliss; Wolfe; Barger. SH — UCM: Mochizuki; ESU: Majors. SB — UCM: Rutledge 3.
First Championship Game
ESU 8, UCM 4
Central Missouri 000 110 200 — 4 10 4
Emporia State 131 201 00X — 8 8 2
W — Nehls. L — Webber.
E — UCM: Mochizuki 2; Dykins; Webber; ESU: Anderson; Nehls. DP — Hornets 2. LOB — Mules 7; Hornets 7. 2B — ESU: Marasco; Anderson. 3B — ESU: Majors. HR — UCM: Feil. HBP — ESU: Hernandez; Marasco. SH — ESU: Majors. SF — ESU: Crumbliss; Hernandez. SB — ESU: Marasco. CS — ESU: Evans.
Winner’s Bracket
Saturday at Warrensburg, Mo.
UCM 16, ESU 6
Emporia State 000 222 0 — 6 5 2
Central Missouri 000 358 X — 16 16 0
W — Potts. L — Lara.
E — ESU: Barger 2. LOB — Hornets 8; Mules 1. 2B — ESU: Marasco; Wolfe; UCM: Dykins; Perez. HR — UCM: Paul; Jaros 2; Rutledge; Perez. HBP — ESU: Majors; Hernandez 2. SH — ESU: Barger. SB — ESU: Crumbliss; Majors.
Loser’s Bracket
ESU 8, NWMSU 1
Emporia State 510 002 000 — 8 14 1
NW Missouri 000 000 010 — 1 7 0
W — Brandon. L — Disselhoff.
E — ESU: McBratney. DP — Hornets 1; Bearcats 3. LOB — Hornets 7; Bearcats 8. 2B — ESU: Evans; Anderson; UCM: Bush. 3B — ESU: Majors. SH — ESU: Barger. SF — ESU: McBratney. CS — ESU: Wolfe.