May 8, 2015-Emporia State scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth to post a 6-3 win over Central Missouri in the conclusion of their MIAA Tournament game that had been suspended on Thursday night.
The game was suspended in the middle of the fourth inning on Thursday night due to rain in the Kansas City area with Emporia State leading 2-1. Central Missouri scored in the first on a wild pitch. Emporia State answered in the bottom of the first with an RBI single by Evan Koehler that plated Justin Harris. The Hornets took the lead in the bottom of the second when Jordan Hodges singled and came around to score on Levi Parker's double into the left field corner. Travis Hendry threw 4.0 innings for the Hornets, allowing one run on four hits with five strikeouts.
When the game resumed at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Jake Heissler retired the Hornets in order in the bottom of the fourth. Shane Davies restarted on the mound for the Hornets in the fifth and walked the bases loaded. With two outs Bennet Oliver laced a single to right field that scored two runs. Garrett Brummett then came on in relief for the Hornets and worked the third to first pick off move and got Oliver out at second base to end the inning with the Mules up 3-2. Jordan Hodges singled to lead off the bottom of the fifth and would score on a Harris single up the middle to tie the score at 3-3. Both pitchers then settled in and did not allow a run over the next two and a half innings.Â
Dean Long led off the bottom of the eighth with a triple into the right field corner. After a strikeout, Cody Bobbitt hit a single between first and second through the drawn in infield to score Long. Following another strikeout Wade Hanna hit a grounder to third and Bennett Oliver dropped the throw at first to put runners at first and third. Hanna stole second and Jordan Hodges hit a two RBI single up the middle to give the Hornets a pair of insurance runs and a 6-3 lead.
Shawn Talkington worked a perfect ninth getting a pair of strike outs to end the game.
Brummett picked up the win, pitching 3.1 shutout innings on three hits with one walk and seven strikeouts. Jordan Hodges was three for four with two runs and two RBI. Harris and Bobbit each had a run, a hit and an RBI for the Hornets.
Emporia State will play Missouri Southern in the winner's bracket championship game later tonight at Community America Ballpark in Kansas City, Mo.
NOTES:
Talkington now has 13 career saves to move into a tie for sixth on the Emporia State career list with Brenton Higgins and Greg Muehlbauer.
