April 11, 2015-The Hornet baseball team split a double header with Northwest Missouri on Saturday to take a two games to one lead in their four game series with the Bearcats. NWMSU won game one 8-6 before Emporia State came back with an 11-6 win in the night cap.
In the opener Cody Bobbit gave the Hornets a 1-0 lead with an RBI single in the second. The Bearcats took a 3-1 lead in the top of the third on a solo home run by Kevin Handzlik and a two run shot by Steven Garber. Jonny Hodges tied the game with a two run homer in the bottom of the third and Dean Long went back to back with a solo shot to give the Hornets a 4-3 lead.
The Bearcats scored a pair of unearned runs in the fourth and another unearned run in the fifth to take a 6-4 lead. Long had an RBI single in the fifth to bring the Hornets within a run in the fifth before Northwest scored two more in the top of the sixth. The Hornets got a run in the bottom of the sixth on Jordan Hodges RBI single. On the play Levi Parker was caught rounding third to far and was caught in a run down to end the inning and Emporia State's scoring.
Garrett Brummett took the loss, giving up six runs, three of them unearned, on six hits in 4.2 innings with seven strikeouts. Long was two for four with two RBI and a run scored while Justin Harris was two for four with a run scored.
Northwest Missouri jumped in front with three runs in the top of the first with two of them unearned. Harris led off the bottom of the inning with a double and scored an unearned run when Evan Koehler reached on a throwing error by Bearcat shortstop Nick Gotta. Parker tied the game with a two run homer in the bottom of the second for Emporia State. Northwest added another unearned run in the third inning to retake the lead. Aaron Gile hit a sac fly that plated Koehler to re-tie the game in the bottom of the third.
The Bearcats got a home run from Garrett Fort and another unearned run to go up 6-4 in the top of the fourth. Emporia State took the lead for good with a six run fourth inning. Koehler had a two RBI single followed by a one run single from Wade Hanna before Bobbit delivered the big blow with a three run homer. The Hornets added an insurance run in the fifth when Dalton Wheat singled and later scored on a double by Hanna.
Grant Bachura threw 3.2 shutout innings to end the game and earn the win. He only allowed two hits and struck out four. Hanna was three for four with two RBI adn a run scored while Bobbit went one for three with a three run homer.
The Hornets will go for the series win on Sunday with their final game against the Bearcats. First pitch is set for 12 noon at the Trusler Sports Complex.
