EMPORIA, Kan. – The Northeastern State baseball team lost twice to No. 20 Emporia State Saturday at Glennen Field.
 
The RiverHawks (20-17, 14-13 MIAA) lost the first game 13-8 before the Hornets (28-11, 20-8 MIAA) were able to secure an 18-8 run-rule victory to close out the series.
 
With the two losses, NSU fell to eighth in the MIAA standings with three weekends remaining in conference play.
 
Northeastern State will now return home to face off with Central Oklahoma in midweek action. The contest is currently scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. April 19 at Rousey Field.
 
EMPORIA STATE 13, NORTHEASTERN STATE 8
The Hornets jumped on top with three runs in the bottom of the first and fended off numerous comeback attempts from the RiverHawks.
 
NSU was able to briefly tie the game at 5-5 after batting in the sixth, but the Hornets regained the advantage in the home half of the frame and added seven more tallies to earn the victory.
 
Seniors Eric Kirkpatrick and Charles Sims were both 3-for-5 in the game. Kirkpatrick drove in three runs and scored once. Sims posted two RBI and scored three times. Senior Justin Burgess finished 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI and two runs of his own. All three hit home runs in the game.
 
Junior Thomas Murray (1-4) took the loss on the mound after allowing six runs on seven hits in the first 5.2 frames. Senior Jake Kern and juniors Zach Poehl and Bobby Sehgal also pitched in the game. They combined to allow seven runs on five hits in the last 2.1 frames.
 
Garrett Brummett (4-1) tossed 3.1 innings of relief for the home team to pick up the victory. He allowed three runs on four hits, while striking out seven and walking two. Jordan Plank left with a no-decision after giving up three runs on six hits in the first 5.0 innings. He struck out seven and walked two.
 
Five different Hornets led with two hits.
 
EMPORIA STATE 18, NORTHEASTERN STATE 8 (7 innings)
Northeastern State led early by a 3-0 margin, but Emporia State scored five runs in both the third and fourth innings and added four more in the fifth to pull ahead 14-7. ESU added two more in the sixth and seventh frames to invoke the 10 run-rule.
 
Burgess hit two home runs in the game, and Sims and senior Cody Begovich also went yard. Kirkpatrick, Burgess, Begovich, Sims, senior Gabriel Wurth and junior Bryce Davenport all finished with two hits. Burgess, Begovich and Sims each scored twice.
 
Junior Daniel Faulk (0-1) suffered the loss on the mound after giving up four runs on five hits in the first 2.2 innings. The RiverHawks used four relievers in the game.
 
Tucker Perkins was 4-for-5 with three runs scored for ESU. Dalton Wheat was 3-for-4 with four RBI and three runs, and Levi Ashmore was 3-for-5 with five RBI and three runs.
 
Reliever Trey Taylor (1-0) picked up the win for Emporia State after throwing 1.2 frames of relief.
 
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