Emporia State Baseball Scores Seven in Seventh to Beat East Central

Hornets rally late to defeat Tigers 18-12 in Edmond First Pitch Classic opener

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

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The Emporia State Hornets baseball team scored seven runs in the seventh inning to defeat the East Central Tigers 18-12 in the opening game of the Edmond First Pitch Classic. The Hornets got off to an early lead but the Tigers fought back to take a 10-5 advantage before Emporia State's big seventh inning rally turned the tide.

Why it matters

The win improves Emporia State's record to 5-0 on the young season, continuing their strong start. The Hornets have now scored 73 runs through their first five games, the most in the 21st century for the program. This offensive outburst could signal a breakout year for Emporia State baseball.

The details

Emporia State jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but East Central responded with a 3-run bottom of the first to take a 3-1 advantage. The Hornets chipped away at the deficit, tying the game in the third on a 3-run homer by Bryce Holmberg. The teams traded the lead over the next few innings before Emporia State's big 7-run seventh inning, capped by a grand slam from Cade Stover, broke the game open and gave the Hornets an 18-10 lead they would not relinquish.

  • Emporia State scored in each of the first seven innings.
  • The Hornets' big 7-run seventh inning came with no outs and the bases loaded.

The players

Bryce Holmberg

Emporia State player who hit a 3-run homer in the third inning to tie the game.

Cade Stover

Emporia State player who hit a grand slam in the 7-run seventh inning to give the Hornets an 18-10 lead.

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What’s next

Emporia State will take on Missouri-St. Louis on Friday at 4:00 PM in the second game of the Edmond First Pitch Classic.

The takeaway

Emporia State's explosive offense has powered them to a 5-0 start, scoring 73 runs in their first five games - the most in the 21st century for the program. The Hornets' ability to rally late and pull away from East Central shows their resilience and potential for a breakout season.