April 3, 2015-Emporia State dropped both ends of a double header on Friday afternoon at Neb.-Kearney. The Hornets lost on a walk-off grand slam 7-5 in the first game before falling 12-1 in the second game.
Emporia State scored two runs in the top of the first only one hit in the matinee. Justin Harris was hit by the first pitch and Levi Parker walked to open the game. After a sacrifice moved the runners over Evan Koehler drove in Harris with a ground out and Wade Hanna singled in Parker for a 2-0 lead. Neb.-Kearney answered with a run in the bottom of the second to cut the lead in half. Koehler then gave the Hornets a 3-1 lead with a double that scored Dean Long in the fifth inning. The Lopers came right back with an unearned run in the bottom of the inning thanks to two Hornet errors and a wild pitch. Brent Kirsch tied the game for UNK in the bottom of the sixth with a two out home run that chased Emporia State starter Garrett Brummett. Shawn Talkington came on in relief and after a pair of singles got out the inning with a ground out.
Neither team scored in the seventh, sending the game to extra innings. Back to back singles from Hanna and Price Jacobs followed by a sacrifice put two runners in scoring position for Cody Bobbit. He delivered a single that scored both runners to give Emporia State a 5-3 lead. A walk and an error loaded the bases but two fielder's choices ended the scoring for the Hornets. The Lopers took advantage of a walk and two hit batters to load the bases and Coby Roming delivered the game winning grand slam.
Bobbit was three for four with two RBI for the Hornets while Harris went two for three with a run scored and reached base in all five plate appearances. Brummett went 5.2 innings allowing three runs, two of them earned, on seven hits with four strikeouts.
The Lopers continued the momentum in the night cap, scoring three runs in the first and two more in the second for a 5-0 lead. The Hornets finally got on the board in the third when Harris doubled in Bobbit but that would be all the scoring for Emporia State. UNK added a single run in the fourth, two in the fifth and four unearned runs in the sixth for the 12-1 final.
Harris was two for four with an RBI officially but again reached base in every plate appearance. He has now reached base safely in nine straight plate appearances and 12 of his last 13 trips to the plate. Bobbit was one for two with the lone run scored. Garrett Bane took the loss, giving up six runs, four of them earned, in 3.1 innings.
Emporia State will look to salvage a split of the series in the final game on Saturday. First pitch from Memorial Field in Kearney, Neb. is set for 12 noon.
