Baseball | 3/20/2013 10:49:00 PM
Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2
Game 1 box in html Game 2 box in html
March 20, 2013-Emporia State posted a come from behind win in game one and scratched out a win in a pitchers duel in game two in a double header sweep of Pittsburg State on Wednesday at the Trusler Sports Complex. The Hornets won the first game 10-6 and took the night cap 5-2.
The Hornets trailed 2-0 and 6-2 in the matinee before scoring the final eight runs of the game. Pitt State took a 2-0 lead in the third and left the bases loaded. Emporia State answered immediately as Jordan Slade led off the bottom of the third with a double, went to third on a sac bunt and scored on Eric Dawson's ground out. Zac Carlson then singled and went to second on a throwing error by the left fielder and was able to score when Aaron Rea reached on a fielding error by the left fielder.
Pitt State answered the Hornets with four runs in the fourth highlighted by Tory Stoffregen's two run double that chased starter Brenton Higgins. Slade led off the bottom of the fifth with a home run. The Hornets closed to 6-4 on an RBI ground out from Rea that scored Blake Sturgeon. The Gorillas got a runner to third in the top of the sixth when Dylan McEwin relieved Zac Gove and struck out Ryan Bilovesky to end the inning.
David Richards doubled to lead off the bottom of the sixth and chased Ryan McKay, who had gotten the final two outs of the fifth. Closer James Fitzgearlds, who had saves in five of Pitt State's 11 wins entering the day, gave up an infield single and hit a batter before Slade singled past the third baseman to score two and tie the score at 6-6. Sturgeon beat out a bunt single to load the bases and Fitzgearlds hit the next two batters to give the Hornets an 8-6 lead. Rea and Tyler Spencer followed with RBI singles to chase Fitzgearlds as Brett Cares came in with the bases loaded and nobody out. He got a strikeout and double play to end the threat but the damage had been done as Emporia State scored six runs on six hits with three hit batters in the inning. McEwin gave up a lead off single in the seventh but got the next three batters out, ending the game with a strikeout to pick up the win.
Slade was three for four with a home run, a double, three RBI and three runs scored.
The nightcap was a pitcher's duel despite the seven runs scored as there were a combined 20 strikeouts in the game. The Hornet scored first when David Richards hit a one out double in the second and went to third on a ground out. He then stole home on a delayed steal after the catcher had thrown the ball back to the pitcher. Tyler Spencer and Aaron Rea both had RBI singles in the third to give Emporia State a 3-0 lead. The Hornets made it 4-0 in the sixth when Rea scored from second on a ground out to second base.
Pitt State cut the lead in half with two outs in the eighth when Tory Stoffregen doubled in two runs but was thrown out trying stretch it into a triple. Emporia State got one of the runs back in the bottom of the eighth when Eric Dawson led off with an infield single and was sacrificed to second. He went to third on a wild pitch and scored on Rea's squeeze bunt.
Matt Hinkley came out to start the ninth for Kevin Shaffer and gave up a one out single before getting two flyouts to end the game.
Shaffer was stellar, allowing just two runs on four hits with seven strikeouts and one walk in 8.0 innings. He was nearly matched by Pitt State starter Matt Stalcup who struckout 12 but gave up five runs on eight hits in 8.0 innings.
Rea went two for three with two RBI and a run scored for the Hornets.
Emporia State is scheduled to play Southwest Baptist in a three game series this weekend beginning Friday at 1 p.m. on Glennen Field in the Trusler Sports Complex.
