FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Apr. 8, 2007

Emporia's late heroics leads to double-header sweep of Southern

Game 1 Box | Game 2 Box

Emporia, Kan. - Brian Majors reached on an infield single that scored Chris Evans as the Emporia State Hornets came up with a run in the bottom of the ninth to knock off the Missouri Southern Lions 7-6 in game one, then Keith Hernandez hit a three-run walk off home run in the bottom of the seventh as the Hornets rallied to win the nightcap 5-3 to win both games of a doubleheader Sunday afternoon (Apr. 8) in Emporia, Kan.

With the first game tied 3-3, the Lions took the lead in the fourth when Henry Adams singled home Scott Klassen and Southern added an unearned run in the inning to take a 5-3 lead.

The Hornets then struck for three in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI single from Conner Crumbliss and a two-run base hit by Mark McBratney.

Southern (12-21, 5-13 MIAA) managed to tie the score in the seventh when Justin Huether scored on an RBI double by Cliff Wheeler that sent the contest into extra innings before the Hornets won it in the ninth.

Kyle Knight came on in relief for the Lions in the seventh and pitched two scoreless innings but gave up the game-winning run in the ninth with two outs to get the loss.

Since the first game went into extra innings, the second game was scheduled for seven innings and the Lions trailed 1-0 before tallying three runs in the top of the fourth to take a two-run lead.

Huether drove in a run on a fielder's choice and Adams and Knight delivered run-scoring singles in the inning.

The Hornets (22-14, 11-5 MIAA) came within a run with a single tally in the fifth before Hernandez's walk-off blast in the seventh won it for Emporia off of Southern starter Luke Lawver.

The seventh inning started quietly as Lawver retired the first two Hornet hitters of the inning. But a single by Evans and a walk to McBratney kept the inning going and set up Hernandez's heroics.

Lawver got the loss by going the entire seven innings and giving up five runs on eight hits, while striking out six.

Grant Meisenheimer also pitched a complete game for Emporia and gave up only one earned run in the victory.

The Lions will next return home to host Southwest Baptist on Tuesday afternoon (Apr. 10) with a seven and nine inning doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. at Joe Becker Stadium.

The Lions and Bearcats split a doubleheader earlier this season in Bolivar, Mo.