April 1, 2016-The #10 Hornets were not fooling around as they posted an 8-1 win over Central Oklahoma on Friday night at the Trusler Sports Complex. Evan Koehler hit two home runs and Tyler Stubblefield pitched 7.0 scoreless innings for Emporia State.
SETTING THE TONE
Stubblefield retired the Bronchos in order in the first and after a Wade Hannah walk Koehler put the Hornets up 2-0 on a two run home run with one out in the bottom of the first. A Hannah triple preceded Koehler's second homer to give Emporia State a 4-0 lead in the third.Â
ADDING ON
Alex White doubled in Braxon Byfield for a 5-0 lead in the fourth and BJ Dean delivered the knockout blow with a three run home run in the fifth to give Emporia State an 8-0 lead.
MORE THAN ENOUGH
Stubblefield continued his mastery, going 7.0 innings giving up just five hits while striking out eight. He ran his string of scoreless innings to 13.0 straight before handing the ball over to Jake Eikleberry to start the eighth. The Bronchos scored their lone run on a lead off homer in the eighth before Eikleberry got a flyout and strikeout around a single. Byfield ended the inning by gunning down a Broncho trying to steal second. Tevin Renken pitched the ninth and after giving up a lead off walk, got a strikeout and coaxed a double play to end the game.
THE NUMBERS
Koehler was two for four with four RBI and two runs to move into a tie for fifth in career home runs at Emporia State with 29 while his 15 homers this year are tied for eighth in a single season at Emporia State. Hannah was two for three with a triple and three runs scored. Stubblefield improved to 7-0 on the year.
UP NEXT
The Hornets and Bronchos will meet up on Saturday in game two of the three game series. First pitch is set for 2:00 p.m. at the Trusler Sports Complex.
