May 8, 2015-Emporia State gave up eight runs in the first two innings and couldn't comeback in an 11-7 loss to #17 Missouri Southern in the winner's bracket championship game of the MIAA Tournament on Friday night. The Hornets will play Washburn on Saturday morning in an elimination game for the right to play Missouri Southern in the championship game.
The Hornets were retired in order in the top of the first before the Lions scored five runs on six hits in the first off Hornet starter Garrett Bane. After Missouri Southern had batted around, Jacob Tetuan came on in relief and got a strike out to end the inning. Emporia State got on the board in the second when Jordan Hodges led off with a walk, went to third on Tory Bell's double and scored when Price Jacobs grounder to third bounced off Richie Gorski's glove. Wade Hanna reached on a fielder's choice that scored Bell for the Hornets second run. Back to back singles loaded the bases and Justin Harris hit a sac fly to pull the Hornets within 5-3.
Evin Natick hit a three run home run with two outs in the bottom of the second to put the Lions up 8-3. Emporia State had a chance to cut the lead in the top of the third but Alex Johnson pulled Bell's fly to right in over the fence to save a three run home run. Mo. Southern made it 9-3 with an unearned run in the third and added another run in sixth to take a 10-3 lead. Bell manufactured a run when singled to start the seventh and went to third on a pair of ground outs before scoring on a wild pitch. Emporia State cut the lead in half in the top of the eighth on an Evan Koehler three run homer but Mo. Southern came back with a run in the bottom of the eighth to put the lead at four runs.
Bane took the loss after giving up five rusn on six hits. Bell went three for four with two runs scored while Koehler was two for four with three RBI.
The Hornets will take on Washburn at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday in their seventh meeting of the year. It will be the tenth postseason elimination game in the last two years for Emporia State.
