April 16, 2016 – The #19 Hornets swept the RiverHawks Saturday afternoon to take the series 2-1 and move back into a second place tie in the MIAA standings. Emporia State claimed game one 13-8 and won 18-8 in seven innings in game two.
The Hornets took an early 3-0 lead in the first inning, holding the RiverHawks scoreless the first three innings. Evan Koehler doubled down the left field line in the bottom of the first to send Wade Hanna home and take a 1-0 lead. Koehler then advanced to third and scored on back-to-back Northeastern State errors to go up 2-0. Derek Francis had a solo home run for Emporia State to take a 3-0 lead.
The RiverHawks closed the gap 3-1 in the top of the fourth, the Hornets answering with two runs of their own in the bottom of the inning to keep the lead 5-1. Northeastern State had back-to-back two run innings to tie the game 5-5 going into the bottom of the sixth. Emporia State scattered three runs in the sixth and seventh inning to take a 8-5 lead.
The Hornets had a big eighth inning to seal the deal, getting five runs from four hits to take a 13-5 lead going into the ninth inning. The RiverHawks had three runs in the top of the ninth for the Hornets to take the game 13-8.
Taylor Steen hit two for four with three RBI and a run scored. Ryan McBroom went two for two with two runs scored. BJ Dean and Levi Ashmore each hit two for three, Dean with two RBI and a run scored, Ashmore with a run scored and an RBI. Dalton Wheat hit two for five with two RBI. Koehler and Alex White each hit one for three. Wheat and Francis each had a home run in game one. Garrett Brummett picked up the win allowing four hits and three runs in 3.1 innings pitched and getting seven strike outs.
Emporia State won game two 18-8 in seven innings. After a scoreless first inning, Northeastern State took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second, adding another two runs in the top of the third to lead 3-0 going into the bottom of the third inning.
The Hornets had five runs in each of the third and fourth innings to take a 10-4 lead, the RiverHawks scoring a run in the top of the fourth. Northeastern State had three runs in the top of the fifth to close the gap 10-7, Emporia State answering with another four runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 14-7 lead. The Hornets had a pair of two run innings to run rule the game in the seventh and win 18-8.
Levi Ashmore hit three for five in game two with five RBI, three runs scored and two home runs. Dalton Wheat hit three for four with four RBI and three runs scored. Jonny Hodges, BJ Dean and Evan Koehler each hit two for five, Hodges and Koehler each with two runs scored. Ryan McBroom and Braxon Byfield both hit two for four, McBroom with two runs scored and an RBI and Byfield with one run scored. Daniel LaMunyon hit one for three with three RBI and a home run. Trey Taylor came in in the third inning and picked up the win to improve to 1-0 on the season. He pitched 1.2 innings with one run on two hits.
The #19 Hornets will travel to Washburn on Tuesday, April 19, 2016 to continue the Turnpike Tussle. First pitch will be at 5:00 p.m.
