PITTSBURG — The Emporia State University baseball team scored five runs in the top of the eighth inning to rally from a 7-5 deficit and claim an eventual 10-9 victory over Pittsburg State University Tuesday (Mar. 30) at Al Ortolani Field.
 
The Hornets improved to 8-13 on the season with the non-conference victory over the Gorillas (12-7). The two MIAA rivals added the contest to their schedules after losing games due to the weather early in the season.
 
ESU jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the contest thanks to a run in the second inning and two runs apiece in the third and fifth frames.
 
Pitt State countered with a four-run rally in its half of the fifth. Hector Carrillo delivered a three-run double in the inning.
 
The Gorillas added a game-tying run in the sixth and Pitt State pulled in front, 7-5, on Ryan Koval's two-out home run in the seventh.
 
Peyton Ingalls (3-1) allowed three runs in the pivotal eighth inning in a game that saw Pitt State call upon seven pitchers in all.
 
The Gorillas plated two runs in the bottom of the ninth on Garrett McGowan's  two-out home run to right field, but Caleb Carr popped up to end the game.
 
Pitt State will return to action Friday (Apr. 2) when the Gorillas open a three-game MIAA series against Rogers State University at Claremore, Okla.