March 14, 2016-The #19 Emporia State baseball team out hit #22 Missouri Southern 10-9, but could not come up with the timely hits in a 5-3 loss to the Lions on Monday in Joplin, Mo.
MISSED OPPORTUNITIES
The Hornets had runners on in the second inning, but a 6-4-3 double play ended the inning. In the third Emporia State got two runners on with two outs but Evan Koehler flied out to end inning. The Hornets had runners at the corners with one out in the fifth when a line drive double play ended the inning. The Lions got single runs in the second and third to lead 2-0 going to the sixth.Â
ON THE BOARD
Emporia State finally got on the board in the sixth when Daniel LaMunyon singled in Levi Ashmore and BJ Dean with two outs. Jesse Rall answered for the Lions in the bottom of the sixth with a lead off home run for a 3-2 Missouri Southern lead. They added two runs in the bottom of the eighth for a 5-2 lead headed to the ninth.
COMEBACK COMES UP SHORT
LaMunyon started a rally for the Hornets in the ninth when he led off with a single, his third hit of the game. Alex White sent him to third with a single right. Dalton Wheat delivered a single to score LaMunyon and pull the Hornets back within two runs. Taylor Steen laid down a sac bunt, that he almost beat out, to put the tying run in scoring position. Wade Hanna would strike out and Levi Ashmore flew out to left to end the game.
THE NUMBERS
Daniel LaMunyon was three for four with two RBI and a run scored while Levi Ashmore and Alex White both had two hits. Jordan Plank worked 6.2 innings, giving up three runs on six hits with three walks and three strikeouts to take the loss.
UP NEXT
Emporia State will take on Newman on Tuesday, March 15 in Wichita. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.
