Baseball | 3/23/2014 5:31:00 PM
Box Score
Box score in html
March 23, 2014-The Emporia State baseball team held on for a 5-4 victory over Neb.-Kearney to earn a split in the four game series and maintain their spot in the top four of the MIAA standings.
The Hornets got on top early scoring an unearned run in the bottom of the first. Levi Parker reached on a throwing error and went to third when Jordan Hodges reached on a throwing error by the UNK pitcher on a sacrifice bunt attempt. Toby Cornejo but Emporia State ahead with an RBI single through the right side.
Dakota McKaskle cruised through the first five innings, allowing just two hits while striking out four. The Lopers tied the score in the top of the sixth on a two out RBI double by Anthony Pacheco. The Hornets responded with four runs in the bottom of the sixth on a two run double by Tory Bell and a two RBI single from Justin Harris.
The Lopers made it interesting with three runs in the top of the eighth on a two run homer from Brandon Landanger and an RBI single from Danny Droll. Matt Hinkley came on in relief and got Pacheco out before handing the ball over to Brenton Higgins to close out the game. Higgins gave up two hits in the final 1.2 innings with two strikeouts to earn his fifth save of the season.
Harris was two for three with two RBI while Bell had two RBI and a run scored. McKaskle picked up the win after giving up three runs on six hits over 7.0 innings with five strikeouts and no walks.
The next action for the Hornets will be Friday, March 28 at Ft. Hays State to begin a four game series with the Tigers. Emporia State's game with Central Missouri scheduled for Tuesday, March 25 has been postponed to Tuesday, April 1 at 5:00 p.m. due to weather.
