WARRENSBURG, Mo. – An incredible comeback was not to be as the Griffon Baseball (29-24) season came to an end with a 6-4 loss to Emporia State (31-21) on the third day of the MIAA Championships.
Trailing 6-1 with two out in the bottom of the ninth, the Griffons scored three runs and had the bases loaded for
Levi Schreiner who grounded to second base for a fielder's choice and the final out of the game.
Bailey Zimmer got the ninth inning rally started when he was hit by a pitch.
Nick Schranck reached on an error by the ESU third baseman that put two on for the Griffons' hottest hitter,
Fahd Shakeel. The junior outfielder delivered his eighth hit and fourth RBI of the weekend, a single through the right side to make it 6-2 that loaded the bases for
Casey Danley. Danley was hit by a pitch to make it 6-3 and bring the winning run to the plate.
Brooks Day hit a high chopper to second base that skipped over the second baseman's head to score a run and put the winning run on first. Day was the last out of the game on Schreiner's fielder's choice, ending the rally.
Emporia State staked a 3-0 lead in the first on
Levi Abrahamson who went two innings and faced one batter in the third. The Griffon bullpen kept Emporia State off the scoreboard for most of the next four innings before scoring three more in the sixth. The bullpen performance was highlighted by three seniors.
Dustin Agnew came in with runners on first and second and nobody out in the third. He left the runners stranded with no one scoring and went three innings, allowing just one hit.
Preston Bailey entered in the top of the ninth and got both batters he faced out, one on a strikeout. Bailey appeared in all three games of the MIAA Championships and did not allow a single base runner, striking out five in 3 2/3. Trailing 6-1 at that point, the Griffon coaches handed the ball to another senior,
Nate Hunter, for the final out of the ninth. Hunter struck out his batter to send the Griffons to the bottom of the ninth.
Emporia State advanced to play Pittsburg State immediately following the conclusion of its victory over Missouri Western.
