May 30, 2009 -- The #3 Emporia State baseball team fell 2-1 to #5 Lynn in the NCAA Division II National Championship game in Cary, N.C. on Saturday afternoon. It was just the fourth one run game in a D-II Championship game and the first 2-1 final since Cal. State Northridge defeated Nicholls State 2-1 in 1970. ESU was out hit 10-6, but forced Lynn to strand ten runners during the game. ESU stranded seven in the game and got only one extra base hit.

ESU got on the board first as Conner Crumbliss led off the game with a single and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kevin Wempe. After walks to Kenny Burkhead and Caleb Williamson, Kellen Lane line a ball off Knight pitcher Dan Wright for an RBI ground out.

Lynn answered with one run in the second when Paddy Matera led off with a double down the left field line, went to second on a single through the right side by Kyle Holloway and scored on Chad Crowe’s sacrifice fly. The Knights scored the go ahead run in the third on Chris Cavez’s RBI single plated Daniel Flores.

Ben Graham had a career high ten strikeouts for the Hornets in 8.0 innings and allowed nine hits. Six of the hits came in the first three innings and at one point he retired ten straight batters. Conner Crumbliss went two for four with a run scored and had five put-outs and an assist from the outfield. Kellen Lane finished his career going two for four with one RBI. Caleb Williamson had a hit and junior Jacob White went one for four with a triple.

Jacob White, Kellen Lane and Ben Graham earned all-tournament honors for the Hornets, who were making their first appearance in the NCAA Division II Championship Game in just their second trip the Championship Finals.

The Hornets are scheduled to return to Kansas on Sunday, May 31 via chartered jet.  ESU will depart Raleigh-Durham at 11 a.m. (EDT) and are scheduled to touch down at Topeka's Forbes Field at 12:35 p.m. (CDT).  They are expected to return to the ESU Campus at approximately 1:45 p.m.  Fans are encouraged to meet the team as they return to Emporia with parking in the  lot north of the Student Recreation Building. Food will be available beginning at 1:30 p.m.

ESU ends the season 49-14, their fifth straight 40+ win season and the second most wins as members of the NCAA.

Notes:
This was the second year in a row Emporia State lost a national championship game by one run - last year the Hornet softball team fell 1-0 to Humboldt State in national title game.
ESU hit .303 as a team during the Championship Series.
ESU pitchers led the tournament in ERA (1.50), saves (2) and opponent batting average (.232).
The Hornets had only two errors in the entire post-season.
Kellen Lane went seven for 11 with a home run hitting .636 to lead the Hornets.
Mike Sharp was the only catcher to throw out more than one runner.
Jacob White led the tournament in total bases with 12 on the week.
Kevin Wempe led the tournament in sacrifice bunts.
Ben Graham led the tournament by striking out 15 batters.
Diego Soto did not allow a hit in the Baseball Championship Series.
Andy Cotton led all players with 17 assists for the tourney.
Andy Cotton, Jacob White and Kenny Burkhead combined to turn seven double plays and turned eight as a team.
Conner Crumbliss ends his career with 311 base hits to rank #10 in NCAA D-II history.

###HORNETS###