April 28, 2016-Emporia State got solid pitching and timely hitting in a 4-2 win at Northwest Missouri on Thursday to open the three game series between the two teams.
Emporia State got off to a good start when Dalton Wheat extended his hitting streak to 16 games with a lead off double. He went to third on a wild pitch and scored Derek Francis' sac fly to give the Hornets a 1-0 lead. With one out in the fourth, Evan Koehler hit his league leading 20th home run to give the Hornets a 2-0 lead.Â
Jake Eikleberry pitched a scoreless first four innings before giving up two runs in the fifth. He got out of the inning by picking off a runner with the Bearcats lead off hitter at bat to keep the game tied.
On the first pitch of the sixth Wheat broke the tie with a home run to right center. Eikleberry came out for the sixth and got a line out before hitting a batter. Trey Taylor come on in relief and promptly got a double play to end the inning. Wade Hanna gave the Hornets an insurance run with a lead off homer in the seventh as Emporia Stat took a 4-2 lead into the eighth.
Taylor surrendered a bunt single and a walk to start the eighth before Shane Davies took over. He allowed a sac bunt to place runners on second and third before two fly ball outs ended the inning.
James Holler led off the ninth with a single and was thrown out by Wheat trying to stretch it into a double. It was the second time in the game Wheat had gunned down a batter trying to take an extra base. After another single Davies got a pair of infield pop outs to end the game.
Wheat was two for four with a double, a home run, two runs scored and and RBI. The Hornets also got solo homers from Koehler and Hanna. Eikleberry was credited with the win, going 5.1 innings and allowing two runs on six hits. Davies picked up his second save, giving up two hits in 2.0 shut out innings.
The Hornets and Bearcats will wrap up their series with a double header on Friday in Maryville, Mo. First pitch is set for 12 noon.
