April 29, 2016-It was lucky seven's for Emporia State as they scored seven runs in each game of a double header sweep of Northwest Missouri on Friday in Maryville, Mo. The Hornets took game one 7-1 and then got a 7-2 victory in game two to sweep the three game series.
GAME ONE
The Hornets used a five run eighth inning to break away in what had been a pitcher's duel for the first seven innings. Emporia State got on the board first as Dalton Wheat extended his hitting streak to 17 games with an RBI single that plated Levi Ashmore in the third inning. Ashmore scored again in the fifth when he walked and made it to third on two ground outs before coming home on fielder's choice by Jonny Hodges.
Jordan Plank did not allow a hit over the first 4.1 innings and shutout the Bearcats through 5.2 innings. Northwest finally got on the board with a hit by pitch, a sac bunt, ground out and single in the sixth to cut the lead to 2-1.
Emporia State took control of the game in the eighth as they batted around and scored five runs. Only two of the runs were credited with RBI as the Hornets scored on a wild pitch by reliever Jacob Wagner and two more on an error by his relief Bryce Shea.
Evan Koehler was three for five while Ashmore went two for two with two walks and three runs scored. Wheat had two hits and two RBI while Wade Hanna went two for four with a run scored. Plank allowed just two hits through 6.0 innings while walking three and striking out seven to pick up his seventh win. Tyler Stubblefield made his second relief appearance of the year and pitched 3.0 shut out innings for his first save.
GAME TWO
Emporia State got out front early in the night cap, scoring three runs in the top of the first. Dalton Wheat reached on an error and then came home on Jonny Hodges two run homer to right. Evan Koehler singled and went to third when the Bearcats third baseman threw the ball away on Levi Ashmore's grounder. Wade Hanna made it 3-0 with a sac fly before Ashmore was picked off to end the inning.
Braxon Byfield walked with two outs in the second and would eventually score on a bases loaded passed ball for a 4-0 Hornet lead. After the Bearcats got on the board with a single run in the bottom fo the second, the Hornets came back with two runs in the top of the fourth to take a 6-1 lead. Byfield led off with a single and went to third on Dalton Wheat's double to left. Hodges drove in Byfield with a sac fly and Tucker Perkins plated Wheat with a single to left. An error and a walk loaded the bases with one out but they would remain loaded as a strike out and pop out ended the inning.
A sac fly by Nick Gotta made it 6-2 after five but Hodges doubled to lead off the top of the sixth and scored two ground outs later to give the Hornets a 7-2 lead.
Teven Renken relieved Hornet starter Matt Slauter to start the eighth and gave up just one hit over the final two innings as Emporia State completed the sweep.
Hodges went two for three with a walk, three RBI and two runs scored. Wheat saw his hitting streak reach 18 games as he went two for five with a double and two runs scored and also reached twice on Bearcat errors. Slauter improved to 6-3 on the year as he gave up two runs on four hits in 7.0 innings with four strike outs and a walk.
NOTES
Wheat has become the fifth Hornet to have a hitting streak of at least 18 games this century.
Emporia State moved into third place in the MIAA standings.
UP NEXT
The Hornets will play the final three regular season games in the friendly confines of the Trusler Sports Complex. Emporia State will play host to Southwest Baptist in a three game series beginning Friday, May 6 at 6:00 p.m. on Glennen Field.
