Baseball | 3/30/2013 10:25:00 PM
Box Score Box Score in html
March 30, 2013-Emporia State took advantage of seven Neb.-Kearney errors to score five unearned runs in a 9-5 win in the rubber match of a three game series in Kearney, Neb.
The Hornets trailed 1-0 after two innings before Todd Reller and Blake Sturgeon scored as Eric Dawson reached on an error by the Loper shortstop to take a 2-1 lead in the top of the third. After a balk, Dawson would score when Aaron Rea singled to third and the thirdbaseman threw the ball away. The Lopers tied the score at 3-3 in the bottom of the third and had the bases loaded when Keith Picht came in and got a strike out to end the threat.
Emporia State regained the lead in the top of the fourth when Luke Slagle led off with a walk, went to second on a dropped fly ball from Reller's bat, went to third on a passed ball and scored on a squeeze bunt by Jordan Slade. Rea got an RBI double in the fifth to give the Hornets a 5-3 lead before scoring three more in the sixth. Reller singles and Slade doubled to lead off the inning and after a fly out by Sturgeon, Reller scored on another squeeze by Dawson. Zach Carlson followed with another bunt that ended up being a sacrifice to score Slade. Dawson wnet to third as Rea reached on an error by the shortstop and scored on an error by the thirdbaseman on the play for an 8-3 lead.
A triple and sac fly in the bottom of the sixth cut the Hornet lead to 8-4. Emporia State responded quickly with another unearned run in the top of the seventh and Neb.-Kearney scored in the bottom of the seventh to make it 9-5. Shawn Talkington worked the final 2.0 innings for the Hornets as they improved to 15-14 on the season and 13-11 in the MIAA.
Reller went three for four with three runs scored from the nine hole in the lineup. Dawson was hitless in six at bats officially but reached base four times and had two RBI and two runs scored. Picht got the win allowing two runs on four hits over 4.1 innings with four strikeouts.
The Hornets return to Glennen Field at the Trusler Sports Complex on Wednesday when they host Central Oklahoma. The double header against the Bronchos is set to start at 1:00 p.m.
