Emporia High concluded its regular season with a winning record Wednesday night, splitting a makeup doubleheader at Washburn Rural to finish 11-9.
The Spartans took Game Two 6-4 in eight innings, with Brett Lechien delivering a game-winning two-run single. Gary Rivera’s sacrifice bunt moved Corey Bacon and Matt Fry to second and third, setting up Lechien’s big hit.
Emporia had held a 4-2 lead going into the bottom of the sixth inning before Rural scored two runs to tie it. Nathaniel Cuellar, the freshman lefthander, was solid on the mound for EHS and picked up the win. Cuellar pitched all eight innings, striking out four and walking two.
“In the second game, we had some better at-bats and really moved runners well the last inning to manufacture a couple of runs,” EHS coach Mike Strickland said.
Emporia also had a lead late in Game One, but couldn’t recuperate after losing that one, dropping a 7-4 decision. The Spartans scored twice in the bottom of the sixth to take a 3-2 lead, but the Junior Blues (7-11) responded with five runs off reliever Fry in their half of the sixth. Emporia added a run in the top of the seventh but couldn’t make a comeback.
Zach Gifford went 3-for-4 for EHS in Game One. Bacon had a double, and Rivera, who started the first game on the mound, added a triple. Brian Keisler had a double for EHS in Game Two.
Emporia’s Class 5A regional group will be broken into two regionals at a seeding meeting on Saturday morning at Kansas City-Turner. Other teams in the group include Bonner Springs, KC-Turner, Lansing, Shawnee Heights, Highland Park, Seaman and Topeka West.
Tuesday at Washburn Rural
Game One
Emporia 001 002 1 — 4 9 3
Washburn Rural 101 005 x — 7 11 2
WP — Seidel. LP — Fry.
2B — EHS: Bacon; WR: Nuss, Swope, Ridley. 3B — EHS: Rivera.
Game Two
Emporia 020 020 02 — 6 4 3
Washburn Rural 100 102 00 — 4 10 4
WP — Cuellar. LP — Ridley.
2B — EHS: B. Keisler; WR: Bordewick 2.