Baseball | 5/10/2014 10:00:00 PM
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Box Score 2 Game 1 box in htmlGame 2 box in htmlMay 10, 2014-After dropping a heartbreaking one run game in the opener, Emporia State battled all the way through the loser's bracket to capture the MIAA Championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Hornets swept Missouri Western 3-2 and 6-0 on Saturday at Hammons Field in Springfield, Mo.
Emporia State sent Travis Hendry to the mound to start the matinee and he gave up just two runs in 4.2 innings. After giving up a pair of runs in the top of the fifth on two singles and a triple, he was relieved by Hornet closer Brenton Higgins. He got a fly out to end the inning with Emporia State down 2-0. Griffon pitcher Josh Lansangan had a perfect game through the first 4.1 innings before Price Jacobs hit a one out single to break up the no hitter. Aaron Gile and Wade Hanna followed with singles to load the bases and Jordan Hodges cut the Griffon lead in half with an RBI ground out.
Levi Parker reached on a throwing error to lead off the sixth and went to second on a ground out by Justin Harris. Dean Long tied the game with an RBI single to right that plated Parker. Long was caught stealing for the second out and Toby Cornejo walked to bring up Jacobs. He laced a single to right center that plated Cornejo and gave the Hornets a 3-2 lead.
With the lead Higgins retired the side in order in the seventh before hitting a batter and allowing a single to the first two batters of the eighth. On the single that put runners on first and second, Higgins reinjured his arm and was pulled in favor of Shawn Talkington. After a lengthy warm up due to the injury Talkington got a strikeout and Todd Schultz gunned down Dylan Koch trying to steal second for the second out. A fly ball ended the inning as Emporia State went to the ninth with a 3-2 lead. Talkington retired the first two batters in the ninth before giving up a walk but ground ball for a fielder's choice to earn his first save of the season and force the second championship game.
Higgins worked 2.1 innings and did not allow a run on two hits to pick up his seventh win of the season. Talkington finished the game, working 2.0 innings of no hit ball. Jacobs went two for three with a run and an RBI for the Hornet offense.
Emporia State worked three walks in the first two innings but didn't break through for a score until the third inning. With one out Justin Harris singled up the middle and went to second on an error by the short stop. He went to third on a wild pitch and gave the Hornets a 1-0 lead on Dean Long's RBI double. Cornejo followed with an RBI single that plated Long for a 2-0 lead. Aaron Gile then hit a double to right center that gave Emporia State a 3-0 advantage.
Jarrod Miller got the ball for the Hornets on no days rest in the second championship game and retired the first seven Griffons he faced. After giving a single to Will Carter with one out in the third he struck out the next two batters to end the inning. Miller gave up a single and walk to open the fourth but retired the next three Griffons to end his day. Jacobs led off the fifth with a home run to give Matt Hinkley a 4-0 lead as he came on to start the fifth inning. With one out Carter hit a double and went to third on Trevor LaHonta's single. Hinkley struck out the next two batters to end the threat.
Dylan McEwin took over for Hinkley to start the eighth for Emporia State and gave up a walk to the first batter he faced. He was erased on a fielder's choice and McEwin would retire the next five batters. The Hornets added a pair of runs in the top of the ninth as Jacobs and Gile opened with singles. Hanna reached on a fielder's choice when Griffon reliever Mason Queen tried to get a runner out a third and threw the ball away, allowing Jacobs to score. Hanna went to second on the play and advanced to third when Gile was thrown out at the plate on a ground ball to the pitcher from Hodges. Todd Schultz then laid down a sac bunt to score Hanna and give the Hornets a 6-0 lead. McEwin retired the side in order in the ninth getting two strikeouts to end the game and give the Hornets their first MIAA Tournament Championship since 2007.
Hinkley was credited with the win as he went 3.0 innings with three hits and four strikeouts. Three pitchers combined on the five hit shutout and struck out a total of 11 Griffons. Jacobs was two for four with two runs and an RBI while Long was two for three with two walks, an RBI and a run scored.
With the win the Hornets earned the MIAA's automatic bid to the NCAA Central Regional Tournament. They will find out who and where they are playing on Sunday night at 9:00 p.m. during the selection show in ncaa.com.
