April 8, 2016-The #11 Hornets scored in double figures for the fourth straight game as they moved into a tie for first place in the MIAA with an 11-4 win at #26 Central Missouri on Friday night.
STARTING STRONG
Emporia State opened the game with five straight hits and scored five runs against the MIAA's best pitching staff in terms of ERA. Levi Ashmore led off with a double and went to third on a single by Wade Hanna. Evan Koehler got the Hornets on the board with and RBI single and Daniel LaMunyon followed with another RBI single. Dalton Wheat then delivered the first of three Hornet homers, a three run shot that gave Emporia State a 5-0 lead. Tyler Stubblefield struck the side around a two out single in the bottom of the first before Koehler hit a solo home run in the second to put the Hornets up 6-0.
GUTTING ONE OUT
The Mules got on the board with two runs in the bottom of the second on Jackson Schnurbusch's two RBI double. That snapped a 14.1 inning scoreless streak for Stubblefield, but would be the only runs Central Missouri would score off of him. He would allow base runners in every inning except the sixth, but was able to keep the Mules off the board.
ADDING ON
The Hornets added a run in the sixth when Derek Francis doubled with one out and pinch runner Jonny Hodges went to third on a wild pitch. He would score on Alex White's ground out to give Emporia State a 7-2 lead. Ryan McBroom, who came in as adefensive replacement in the seventh, would lead off the eighth with another double and advanced to third on a passed ball. Wheat was hit by a pitch and McBroom came in to score on an error by the catcher as Wheat swiped second. After BJ Dean walked pinch hitter Tucker Perkins delivered the knockout blow with a three run homer to right for an 11-2 Hornet lead.
FINISHING UP
Jacob Tetuan came on for Stubblefield to start the eighth and after giving up a single and a one out walk got two strike outs to end the inning. Up 11-2, Tevin Renken worked the ninth. He got the first two batters out then gave up a single and a home run to Bennet Oliver, before ending the game with a fly out.
THE NUMBERS
Hanna was three for five with a run scored and Koehler went two for five with two RBI and two run scored as he hit his 17th home run of the season. Wheat and Perkins both had three RBI with their three run home runs.
Tyler Stubblefield improved to 8-0 on the season as he allowed just two runs on eight hits with four strike outs and two walks.Â
UP NEXT
The Hornets and Mules play game two on Saturday afternoon in Warrensburg. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m. at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field.
