EMPORIA, Kan. – Missouri Western baseball coach Buzz Verduzco earned his 600^th career victory Saturday in game two of the Griffons doubleheader at Emporia State.  The Hornets won the opener, 5-1, before MWSU beat ESU in game two, 6-4, in 10 innings. 
 
Coach Verduzco becomes just the third coach in MIAA history to reach 600 victories, joining current Pittsburg State head coach Bob Fornelli and former Washburn head coach Steve Anson.
 
GAME 1 – Emporia State 5, Missouri Western 1
Missouri Western was only able to get a single run on an RBI groundout by Colby Tam in the fourth inning and they had just six hits in game one.  Brady Holden had two of those hits, while Maurice Bruce scored the only Griffon run. 
 
Brian Tan started and allowed four runs on five hits in six innings of work as he falls to 1-3 this season.
 
GAME 2 – Missouri Western 6, Emporia State 4 (10 innings)
Win No. 600 took a litter longer than expected in game two.  Missouri Western took a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning, but Emporia State rallied to forced extra innings.  But in the top of the 10^th after a Tam one-out single, Maurice Bruce hit a 1-1 pitch over the wall in left center to put the Griffons up for good and give Coach Verduzco the milestone.
 
Bailey Crump went 3-for-5 with one RBI in the nightcap, while Ben Tsui finished 2-for-4 with one RBI.
 
Robert Farrell (3-0) earned the win in relief, but Jordan Akins did most of the heavy lifting on the mound.  He threw five shutout innings from the fourth through the eight innings and he allowed just four hits. 
 
UP NEXT
The Griffons and Hornets will wrap up their three-game series Sunday at 12:00 p.m. from the Trusler Sports Complex in Emporia.