EMPORIA, Kan. — The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team secured a decisive 11-5 victory over Emporia State University on Friday at Turnbull Field. The Bearcats tallied 11 runs on 11 hits, capitalizing on a five-run sixth inning to take control of the game.
 
The Hornets took an early lead, scoring first in the bottom of the second inning when Brady Unrein doubled to center field, driving in Noah Steele. The score was 1-0 in favor of Emporia State through two innings.
 
In the fourth inning, the Hornets extended their lead with the help of a passed ball and a two-run homer by Unrein, bringing the score to 4-0. Emporia State added another run in the fifth inning with an RBI double by Frankie Santiago, pushing its lead to 5-0.
 
Northwest responded strongly in the sixth inning. With the bases loaded, Michael Good singled to center field, scoring both Chester Brooks and Parker Griffith. Leonardo May followed with a double down the right field line, bringing in Jordi Ventura. John Connors added another run with a groundout, and Frank Gall capped off the inning with a single through the right side, scoring May. This rally tied the game at 5-5 through six innings. Good's performance was not limited to his batting, as he also recorded a season-high of 6 fielding assists, showcasing his defensive prowess.
 
In the seventh inning, the Bearcats took the lead when Good singled to left center, driving in Brooks, making it 6-5.
 
The eighth inning saw the Bearcats further their lead. A bases-loaded walk to Ventura scored Jeremiah Cabuyaban, and Brooks was hit by a pitch, allowing another run to score. The Bearcats led 8-5 through eight innings.
 
In the ninth inning, the Bearcats secured the victory by adding three more runs. Cabuyaban scored on a wild pitch, Gall scored on a walk to Brooks, and Wilmer Jimenez scored on another wild pitch, finalizing the score at 11-5.
 
Northwest Missouri State emerged victorious over Emporia State with a final score of 11-5.
 
Ben Haug pitched 5 innings, allowing 5 earned runs on 8 hits, including 3 doubles and a home run, while striking out 4 and walking 1. Landon Wells delivered 2 scoreless innings of relief, striking out 2 and allowing no hits, maintaining a perfect WHIP. Jase Johnson also contributed with 2 innings of scoreless pitching, yielding just 1 hit, walking 2, and striking out 1.
 
Cabuyaban scored two runs and added a hit in his performance. Gall contributed with two hits, one of which brought in a run, and crossed the plate once himself. Good played a key role by driving in three runs with two hits. Brooks also showcased effective hitting, tallying two RBIs and scoring twice.

The Bearcat's will finish out the series on Saturday, Feb. 27 with game two at 12:00 p.m. and game three at 3:00 p.m. at the Trusler Sports Complex at Emporia State University.