February 20, 2015-When weather forced the series between #4 Emporia State and Missouri Western from St. Joseph, Mo. to the Trusler Sports Complex, the Hornets were forced to play as visitors on their home field per conference rules. That did not come into play in the first game, a 10-6 win by the Hornets, but the Griffons were able to use their last at bat to pull out a 4-3 walk-off win on Emporia State's Glennen Field in the night cap.
Missouri Western scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning off starter Jarrod Miller in the matinee. It was the first time this year the Hornets had trailed in a game. It didn't last long as Emporia State got a two run single from Wade Hanna and a two run double from Justin Harris to tie the score in the top of the second. The Griffons had the bases loaded in the bottom of the first but Miller was able to get a ground out to leave the bases loaded. Dean Long led off the third with a home run to left and two batters later Evan Koehler sent a shot over the wall in straight away center field to give the Hornets a 7-4 lead. Jacob Tetuan relieved Miller in the bottom of the third and after a lead off walk retired five straight and six of the next seven he faced.
Harris led off the fourth with a double and beat the throw to third when the Griffons tried to cut down the lead runner on Cody Bobbitt's bunt. Long then hit his second homer of the game to give Emporia State a 10-4 lead. Western scored on a solo homer in the fifth to pull within 10-5. Shane Davies came on in relief and worked a scoreless sixth before giving up a single and two walks to load the bases in the seventh. He was replaced by Garrett Bane, who came on in one of the longest save situations possible with a five run lead and the tying run on deck. Bane struck out the first batter he faced and then gave up an RBI ground out to make it 10-6. He ended the game with a strike out to pick up his second save of the year.
Long was two for four with four RBI and two runs scored while Koehler went three for four with two runs and two RBI. Tetuan gave up one run in 3.0 innings to pick up the win.
The Hornets struck first in the second game, getting a sac fly from Price Jacobs with the bases loaded in the third. They would make it 2-0 when Koehler reached on an error by the third baseman that allowed Bobbitt to score with two outs. Emporia State made it 3-0 when Hanna singled with two outs and was able to score from first when Garrett McKinzie's single was bobbled by the left fielder.
Garrett Brummett was being dominant on the mound. He had ten strike outs through the first six innings, at striking out three straight batters on just nine pitches. He finally gave up a run on back to back to back singles in the sixth before ending the threat with a strike out and fly out. He handed a 3-1 lead over to Matt Hinkley in the bottom of the seventh. Michael Yeager led off the inning by reaching on an error and would eventually score on another error with two outs to cut the Hornets lead to one. The Griffons loaded the bases with two outs when Hinkley was able to get designated hitter De'Andre Heggie on a called third strike. Heggie argued the call and was ejected along with Griffon head coach Buzz Verduzco.
The Griffons got a runner to second in the eighth and Bane came in looking to pick up his second save of the day and third in six games. He got out of the eighth with a pair of ground outs and the Hornets took a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the ninth. With one out Ryan Denger reached on a high chopper up the middle. After a walk to Cosimo Cannella put runners on first and second it looked like the Hornets would get out of the inning when David Glaude hit ground ball to second. However Bobbitt bobbled the throw at the base allowing Cannella to get to second and when Bobbitt hesitated Denger came all the way around to tie the game. Andrew Ramirez singled to shallow center and Harris was able to gun down Cannella trying to score from second. Mitch Thorman then delivered the game winning walk off single through the right side to score Glaude and give the Hornets their first loss of the season.
Bane took the loss in relief, giving up two runs on three hits in 1.1 innings. Brummett was brilliant in his second start for the Hornets, getting 10 strike outs in 6.0 innings while giving up just one run and one walk while scattering six hits. Harris was two for four officially but reached base a total of four times with a walk and reaching on an error.
The two teams are scheduled to wrap up the series on Saturday with another double header at Trusler. First pitch is set for 12 noon on Glennen Field with the Hornets again the visitors on their home field.
