EMPORIA, Kan. -- Behind a strong complete game performance from senior Ray Kelly, the SBU baseball Bearcats upset #8 Emporia State 4-1 in the opener of a four game series. The Hornets took game two by the same 4-1 score.

The Bearcats (9-39, 7-29 MIAA) jumped on the Hornets (40-10, 27-7) in the first game with three early runs. Senior Jason Asher singled to lead off the ballgame and was bunted to second by A.J. Roller. Asher moved to third on a hit by Kyle Wise and came home on a groundout by Justin Crumpley. In the second inning, Brendon Cox would single to bring home John Cobb. A sac fly from Roller later in the inning would plate C.J. Samuels and give the 'Cats a 3-0 lead.

Emporia would get a run in the fifth before the Bearcats got another tally in the seventh when Crumpley singled to bring home Ryan Huslig. Kelly picked up the win after throwing seven innings and allowing just one earned run while scattering seven hits.

"Ray Kelly pitched a great game," said head coach Sam Berg. "Our 'small-ball' game worked well and we moved guys around to pick up some runs. We didn't hit as well in game two, but still played good. Our three pitchers (Eric Wallace, Ethan Stenger and Seth Tucker) allowed just five hits in nine innings with just three of the runs earned."

The scoring in game two was much like game one, only reversed on the scoreboard. The Hornets got two runs in the first inning and another in the second. The Bearcats cut into the lead with a fifth inning run on an RBI single from Roller that scored Cox.

Emporia stretched the lead to 4-1 with a run in the seventh. The win gave the Hornets their second straight MIAA regular season title.

SBU will close out MIAA play on Saturday with the conclusion of the four-game series with ESU, in a twinbill beginning at noon. SBU returns home to finish out the 2009 season on Tuesday with a non-conference doubleheader against Lincoln starting at 1:00 p.m.

SBU 4, ESU 1
ESU 4, SBU 1