May 25, 2009 – The #3 Emporia State baseball team overcame an early 2-1 deficit to pull out a 5-2 victory over #6 Mesa State in the NCAA Division II Baseball Championship Tournament. Three of the Hornets five runs came with two outs and ESU has now scored 33 runs with two outs in the post-season. The Hornets gave up two runs and three hits through the first two innings before shutting out the most potent offense in Division II on just four hits through the final seven innings.

ESU got on the board in the first inning as Conner Crumbliss scored on a single through the right side by Kenny Burkhead. After falling behind 2-1 in the second ESU got a two run double from Caleb Williamson to regain the lead for good. ESU scratched across single runs in the fourth and seventh innings.

At the plate Williamson finished four for four with two runs driven in. Burkhead went two for four with two runs scored and one RBI. Mike Sharp went two for four with a run scored and a run driven in. Jacob White added an RBI for the second straight game while Crumbliss and Andy Cotton added a run scored.

Ben Graham came on in relief of Tyler Applehans during the second inning and allowed only four hits over 6.1 innings of work to pick up his eighth victory. Diego Soto pitched the ninth inning to earn his 12th save of the season. Graham finished game with five strikeouts as Soto added two.

ESU will play again against one of the four teams from the bottom bracket at 2 p.m. CDT on May 28 from Cary, N.C.

Notes:
ESU has now scored 33 runs in the post-season with two outs and five of their eight runs in the Championship with two outs.
Diego Soto has earned two saves in the post-season and is tied with Bryan Jamison for sixth in career saves at ESU with 12.
ESU has allowed only two runs through 18 innings in Carey.
The Hornet bullpen has not allowed a run in 10.1 innings pitched in Carey.
This was the first game in the postseason that ESU's starter didn't make it through five innings