April 13, 2016-The #19 Emporia State baseball team gave up eight runs in the final three innings of an 11-8 loss to Washburn as they dropped the first game of the Turnpike Tussle series.
Washburn jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the second on an RBI double by Zane Mapes who was then driven in by Riley Krane. The Hornets answered with three runs in the bottom of the third when the first four batters reached base safely. Evan Koehler drove in Daniel LaMunyon with an RBI single to start the scoring and Dalton Wheat tied the game with a single that scored Wade Hanna. BJ Dean then gave the Hornets the lead with a single that plated Koehler for a 3-2 advantage.
The Ichabods tied the game with back to back doubles by Parker Gibson and Krane with two outs in the fourth. Koehler gave the Hornets a 6-3 lead with his 18th home run of the season, a three run shot to left, in the bottom fo the fourth. Wheat gave Emporia State a 7-3 lead with a one out homer in the sixth.
Kyle Carnahan hit a two run homer off Hornet starter Jake Eikleberry in the seventh and Matt Slauter came on in relief. After getting the second out of the inning Lance Barkley and Tanner Triggs hit back to back solo home runs to tie the score. Slauter hit Payton Soicher to lead off the top of the eighth. Mapes hit a comebacker that Slauter tried to go to second for the force, but was late putting runners on first and second. Gipson then hit a sharp ball to third that LaMunyon was able to knockdown to save a run and load the bases. Krane then hit a bases clearing double to left center to give the Ichabods a 10-7 lead. After a pair of ground outs, Barkley gave Washburn an insurance run with a single to right.
LaMunyon led off the bottom of the eighth with a home run to make it 11-8 but that would be the last hit for Emporia State as the Washburn snapped a three game Hornet winning streak in the Turnpike Tussle.
Koehler finished the game two for five with four RBI and two runs scored while LaMunyon went two for four with three runs and an RBI. Eikleberry went 6.1 innings, allowing five runs on seven hits with five strikeouts in the no decision. Slauter took the loss after allowing four runs on two hits.Â
The Hornets are back in action this weekend when they play host to Northeastern State in a three game set. First pitch of game one will be on Friday night at 6:00 p.m. at the Trusler Sports Complex.
NOTES:
Koehler's 18th home run ties him with Scott Smith (2005) and Keith Hernandez for fifth on the Emporia State single season list.
The Hornets have lost three straight games for the first time since losing three straight to Missouri Western on Feb. 20-21, 2015.
