The Emporia State baseball team watched an early eight-run lead nearly disappear, then went on the offensive again to put away Wayne State 13-8 Friday and advance to the semifinals of the NCAA Division II Central Regional.
Shortstop Andy Anderson went 3-for-5 with two doubles and four RBIs, helping him offset a three-error performance in the field. Catcher Keith Hernandez homered to left center in the third inning, his 18th of the season, and reached base four times.
The Hornets scored five runs in the second, one in the third and three in the fourth to build a 9-1 lead. Wayne State answered with four runs in the bottom of the fourth and two in the sixth to cut the score to 9-7, but ESU put together three runs in the seventh on four singles, a double and a suicide squeeze play. Another run in the eighth pushed the lead to 13-7.
Emporia State received plenty of help from Wayne State's pitching and defense — the Wildcats hit ESU batters five times and committed three errors, two by third baseman Alex Koch.
The Hornets (50-8) play at noon Saturday against Central Missouri State, which beat Nebraska-Omaha 13-8 on Friday night. Wayne State's season ended with their second loss in the Central bracket; the Wildcats finished 40-13.
For more, see this weekend's Gazette.