February 20, 2016-The #30 Emporia State baseball team split a double header at Tarleton State to earn their third straight series win to open the season. The Hornets fell 3-2 in ten innings in the matinee and then took a 14-9 win in the nightcap. The double header was scheduled to avoid bad weather on Sunday in Stephenville, Texas.
GAME ONE
The two teams were scoreless through the first four innings as Matt Slauter gave up three hits heading into the bottom of the fifth. Garret Kizer opened the fifth with a single to left and went to third when Peter McMahon reached on a bunt single. The Texans tried to lay down a sacrifice bunt but Stacy Heinatz was able to reach on an error by third baseman Alex White to lead the bases and bring Garrett Brummett on in relief. Alec Humphreys hit a sac fly that plated Kizer but turned into a double play as Jonny Hodges threw out McMahon trying to go to second. Landon Thompson made it 2-0 with a lead off home run in the bottom of the sixth of the scheduled seven inning game.
BJ Dean worked a two out walk in the top of the seventh. Daniel LaMunyon then got a pinch hit double to put runners at second and third. Derek Francis would tie the game with a two run single. After a lead off walk Grant Bachura come on in relief of Brummett and gave up another walk before the Texans sacrificed to put runners at second and third with one out. After an intentional walk loaded the bases Jake Hasbrouck flied out to right and BJ Dean cut down the winning run at the plate to send the game to extra innings.
The Texans would get the win in the bottom of the tenth when Zac McCown struck out but reached base on a wild pitch. After a single sent him to third and another walk loaded the bases, Heinatz hit a sac fly to center that scored the winning run.
GAME TWO
The nightcap was not as close as Emporia State used an eight run fifth inning to go up 12-1 headed to the bottom of the fifth in a now scheduled seven inning game. Evan Koehler had the big hit in the inning, a three run homer with two outs. Tarleton got four runs in the bottom of the fifth with three coming on a home run by Hasbrouck. Emporia State answered with a sac fly from Alex White in the top of the sixth to give the Hornets a 13-5 lead.
Tarleton added four more runs in the bottom of the sixth but Koehler hit his second homer of the game with one out in the seventh to give the Hornets a five run lead. Jordan Plank worked a scoreless bottom of the seventh to preserve the 14-9 win.
NUMBERS ON THE DAY
Francis went six for eight with five RBI and three runs while Koehler had four RBI, three runs and two home runs and Wade Hanna was four for six with two RBI and a run scored.
Tetuan took the loss in relief of game one as his runner scored the game winner in the tenth. Tanner Cairns went 4.2 innings to get the win in the second game after getting his red shirt taken off for this trip.
UP NEXT
The Hornets begin MIAA play next weekend at Pittsburg State. First pitch of game one is set for 2:00 p.m. in Pittsburg, Kan.
