February 12, 2016-The #38 Hornets posted their second straight shutout with a 2-0 victory over Metro State on Friday in Denver, Colo. It was the first time Emporia State has had back to back shutouts since the 2013 season.
DEALING
Both team's pitchers were dealing through the first seven innings. In his first start for the Hornets Tyler Stubblefield tossed 6.0 shutout innings, giving up two hits and two walks while striking out six. The Roadrunners Julian Garcia matched him through the first seven innings, allowing no runs on three hits with two walks and eight strikeouts headed into the eighth.
BREAKING THROUGH
The Hornets finally broke through in the eighth when Taylor Steen drew a one out walk and went to second on a wild pitch. Alex White then dropped a single into left for the first run of the game. Emporia State would get an insurance run in the top fo the ninth when BJ Dean singled for his third hit of the day and then stole second. Derek Francis then drove him home with a double to give the Hornets a 2-0 lead.
CLOSING OUT
Jordan Plank relieved Stubblefield to start the seventh and retired the first four batters he faced. He gave up a pair of singles sandwiched around a strikeout before ending his outing with his fourth strikeout to leave runners on first and third. Garrett Brummett pitched the ninth and allowed a two out double before getting a called third strike to end the game.
THE NUMBERS
BJ Dean led Emporia State with three hits while Derek Francis and Alex White each had RBI hits. Plank worked 2.0 innings to get the win while Brummett worked a scoreless ninth to get his first save of the season.
HISTORY LESSON
Emporia State had not pitched back to back shut outs since getting a 6-0 win over Central Oklahoma on April 3, 2013 followed by 1-0 and 11-0 wins over Truman on April 6, 2013.
UP NEXT
The Hornets and Roadrunners meet again on Saturday at 1:00 pm (CT) in Denver, Colo. for the middle game of the three game series.
