Baseball | 2/19/2012 3:41:00 PM
Box Score
February 19, 2012 -- The #8 Emporia State baseball team stole six bases needed only three extra base hits in a 12-3 win over Nebraska-Kearney. The Hornets swept the three game series with the Lopers to open the season.
ESU struck first plating two runs in the third inning taking advantage of a Loper error as Ashton McCoy hit a two out triple to give the Hornets the lead. The Lopers answered in the top of the fourth inning as they got four of their nine hits and took a 3-2 lead. The Hornets would answer in a big way in the bottom of the fourth though plating seven runs to take a 9-3 lead. Joe Vaskas would hit the first Hornet home run of the season in the bottom of the fifth inning as ESU would plate three more runs.
McCoy had a strong day at the plate going two for five with five runs driven in and socring a run of his own. Vaskas finished two for four on the day with two runs batted in and two runs scored. Beau Poston went three for four on the afternoon and added two runs scored and an RBI.
Caleb Compton followed up Saturday's strong perfomance at the plate with a two for four game and added two ESU RBI. Joe Hosey reached base twice scoring both times for the Hornets while Eric Dawson finished two for four and scored a run. Rudy Weiser led the way on the base paths for the Hornets stealing a career high two bases in the game.
On the mound Drew Smith started the game going 3.2 innings before Keith Picht came on to work out of a bases loaded jam. Picht struck out only one, but did not allow a hit over the next 2.1 innings to pick up his first win of the season. Ethan Appleby also added a hitless inning of relief in the Hornet effort.
#8 ESU will now face Rockhurst to close out their season opening homestand on Feb. 22. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. from Glennen Field in the Trusler Sports Complex.
