ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – After falling behind 3-0 to Emporia State early on this Sunday on Senior Day, Griffon Baseball's six seniors were sent off on into the sunset at the Spring Sports Complex in one of the grandest ways possible.
Down 3-2 with two outs on the board and a 3-2 count on him,
Will Courtney crushed a grand slam to left-center field in the bottom of the seventh to send Missouri Western ahead and eventually secure the 6-5 victory. The Hornets (20-26, 12-18 MIAA) didn't go away quietly, however, stealing two runs in the eighth thanks to a David Werries single that caused a throwing error from second baseman
Alex Crouch. While Emporia State only trailed 6-5 at this point, reliever
Robert Farrell turned on the flamethrower and struck out the side to give his seniors something to smile about on their last day playing at Griffon Baseball Field.
TEEING UP THE TRIUMPH
Missouri Western (12-30, 8-22 MIAA) went behind early after Sam Chaput scored on passed ball early in the first inning. Fast forward to the sixth inning, Javier Pena sent a two-run home run to left field to put his Hornets up 2-0. Coincidentally, that's when the Griffons shifted things into sixth gear.
After
Hunter Olson collected an RBI with a bases-loaded walk,
Alec McGehee found one the hard way. In his final at-bat on his home field, McGehee earned a bruise the size of a baseball but also earned the Griffons' second run of the game, bringing them within one. One inning later is when Courtney certified his ticket around the bags and his team's final home victory of 2022.
SENIOR SENDOFFS
NOTABLES
NEXT UP
Missouri Western's final series of the season starts next Friday, April 29 at 6 p.m. in Joplin, Missouri. The Griffons will clash with the Missouri Southern Lions (25-20, 15-15 MIAA), who are on a four-game losing streak after being swept by Northeastern State this past weekend.
