March 31, 2015-The Emporia State baseball team used a six run third inning to take control on the way to an 11-1 run rule win over #26 Missouri Southern on Tuesday at the Trusler Sports Complex. The non-league match up pitted the top hitting team in the MIAA against the top pitching team in the conference.
Missouri Southern got on the board first as Jon Davis doubled in Tee Helsel in the top of the second. Emporia State answered with six runs in the bottom of the third. Cody Bobbit started things with a walk and went to third on a hit and run single through the left side by Tyler Beebe. Justin Harris got the first of his three RBI on a single up the middle that scored Bobbit. Levi Parker laid down a bunt attempting to sacrifice but Richie Gorski's throw from third was off and allowed Beebe to score from third and Harris to come all the way around from first for a 3-1 lead. Dean Long then drove in Parker with a single and went to second on a failed pick-off by the Lions pitcher Sean Goostree. Long stole third and came home on a ground out by Price Jacobs. Jonny Hodges singled in Wade Hanna, who had reached after getting hit by a pitch, to end the scoring.
Harris made it 8-1 with a two run home run in the fourth and would score on a Dean Long single in the sixth to give the Hornets a 9-1 lead. Harris then led off the eighth with a double into the left field bullpen and scored on Parker's double to left center. Long ended the game with another double that plated Parker and gave the Hornets the 11-1 run rule win.
Harris was four for five with a double, a homer, four runs scored and three RBI. Long went three for five with a double, three RBI and a run scored. Jagger Harjo went 6.0 innings and allowed one run on five hits to pick up his first win.
The Hornets, winners of eight of their last nine, will travel to Neb.-Kearney this weekend for a four game MIAA series. First pitch on Thursday is set for 3:00 p.m. at Memorial Field in Kearney, Neb.
