Baseball | 3/27/2012 7:40:00 PM
Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box
March 27, 2012 -- The Emporia State baseball team had to come from behind to win game one, but cruised in game two as they swept Missouri Western. The Hornets earned a 3-2 comeback victory in the first game and rolled to a 5-1 win in the nightcap.
In game one Missouri Western struck early putting up two runs in the first inning. Hornet pitchers would only allow three base runners after that, however, as they kept the Griffons off the board for the rest of the game. The Hornets cut the lead in half in the fourth inning as Beau Poston hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Zach Carlson. With one out and one on in the top of the seventh inning Joe Kornbrust singled to center, and moved to third base while Ashton McCoy scored on a MWSU error. Eric Dawson would follow with a sacrifice fly to left field to put ESU ahead for good.
Offensivley Dawson finished two for three with the game winning RBI. Poston went one for two and drove in a run for the Hornets. Joe Vaskas was the only other Hornet to record multiple hits as he finished with two hits on the afternoon.
After picking up his third win of the season on Saturday Matt Robertson pitched six strong innings to pick up his fourth win of the season. Robertson allowed three hits in the first inning, but would only allow three more baserunners in his final five innings while striking out four in the game. Brandon Faulkner, also working on just three days rest, pitched the final inning to pick up his first career save.
In game two the Hornets struck first on a Carlson single driving in Kornbrust. Missouri Western would answer in their half of the inning, though Zach Gove got out of danger working out of a bases loaded jam. The Hornets would take the lead for good in the third inning when Vaskas hit his first of two doubles to drive in Kornbrust. ESU would then add three insurance runs in the fifth inning.
At the plate Kornbrust went three for four in the game with three runs scored. Vaskas was three for five in the second game driving in a run and scoring a run. Carlson, Poston and Rudy Weiser each recorded a hit and added an RBI.
On the mound Zach Gove allowed just five hits striking out six hitters over 7.0 innings to move to 2-2 on the season in his longest outing of the year. Ben Jacks came on the closed the door allowing just two hits over the final two innings.
The Hornets will return to the field on March 30-April 1 when Fort Hays State comes to town for a four game series. First pitch for the series opening game is scheduled for 5 p.m. on March 30 from Glennen Field in the Trusler Sports Complex.
