Game one | Game two | Season stats

BOLIVAR, Mo. -- SBU falls in both games of the doubleheader against the #18 Emporia State Hornets, after narrowly missing out on the split in the second game, a 12-11 ESU victory. Left fielder Paden Grubbs led the Bearcat offense, going 4-for-7 with four runs and 5 RBI between the two contests. Grubbs paired up with designated hitter Kyle Wise in the sixth inning of game one to knock back-to-back home runs that brought the 'Cats within three, making it a 7-4 score.

The Hornet bats were too much for SBU in the opener, however, and Emporia was able to close out the win with five runs in the seventh and final inning. The second game of the day was the real offensive battle, however, as no pitcher for either side was able to escape without giving up at least one run during their outing. 

The 'Cats struck first in the first inning when Grubbs doubled home Niko Saladis, who reached base after being hit by a pitch. The nationally-ranked Hornets came back in the second and third innings, however, taking advantage of some walks and timely hitting, and put up two runs in each inning to go up 4-1.

The Bearcats didn't back down and showed their potential at the plate, when three straight singles led off the bottom of the third inning.With a 4-2 Emporia lead, Wise took one for the team, getting hit by an errant pitch to load the bases. With no outs, Grubbs came up, and got a catcher's interference call on a play that otherwise would have been a back-breaking, double-play line out to the pitcher that resulted in the runner on third being picked off. Instead of two outs, however, SBU moved everyone up ninety feet and got another run. Catcher Steven Davis grounded into a double play in the next at-bat, but was able to bring in the tying run, making it a 4-4 game.

SBU didn't let up, taking the lead in the fourth inning with a pair of runs. A sac fly from Saladis brought in first baseman Justin Crumpley, then a dropped pop-up from the Emporia shortstop was enough for Nigel Morton to sneak home for a 6-4 Bearcat advantage.

Emporia would go on to score four unanswered, but SBU would again come back and tie the game on  a 2-RBI double to right-center from Davis. When the Hornets got two runs back in the eighth inning to go up 10-8, SBU held on, and was able to pull even again with a pair of singles, followed by Grubbs' two-out single that scored two runs. After a walk to Davis, Taylor Trotter knocked in the go-ahead RBI, giving SBU a 11-10 lead.

The Hornets were able to fight back, however, scoring one in the ninth to force extra innings, then getting one across the plate with two outs in the tenth to clinch the win.

With the pair of losses, SBU falls to 2-12 in the MIAA, while Emporia improves to 10-4. The Bearcats and Hornets continue their series Friday, with the doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. from Dodson Field.