April 9, 2016-The #11 Hornets stranded six runners, five of them in scoring position, in a 3-2 loss at #26 Central Missouri on Saturday as the Mules evened the three game series at a win a piece.
RUNS AT A PREMIUM
Levi Ashmore reached base on an error to lead off the game but was stranded at second. The Mules got a lead off double from Matt Elliott and after a sac bunt moved him to third Jake Alexander gave Central Missouri their first lead of the series with an RBI single. Alexander would be thrown out by Taylor Steen trying to steal second and after a double and walk Hornet starter Jordan Plank was able to get a strike out to end the inning. The Hornets avoided further damage in the second when Plank picked off Jackson Schnurbusch following a one out single. Alexander gave the Mules a 2-0 lead with one out homer in the bottom of the third. After a single and a walk Plank was able to end the inning with another strike out to keep it a two run game.
The Hornets got on the board in the top of the fourth when Wade Hanna walked, stole second and came home on Dalton Wheat's two out single. Alex White and Steen got back to back walks with one out in the fifth before a double play ended the Emporia State threat. Hanna doubled to lead off the sixth and Daniel LaMunyon tied the game one out later with another double to make it 2-2.
Bennett Oliver broke the tie with a lead off home run to right to lead off the bottom of the sixth to put the Mules up 3-2.
EFFECTIVE BULLPENS
With Central Missouri up 3-2 going to the seventh the bullpens for both teams took over. White and Steen hit back to back singles with one out against Mules reliever Austin Southmayd. They would be the only hits allowed by either bullpen over the final three innings as Lucas Williams relieved Southmayd and got two outs to end the seventh and worked a perfect eighth. Grant Bachura seventh and eighth for the Hornets and did not allow a hit while hitting one batter. Grant Gavin pitched a scoreless ninth for Central Missouri to pick up the save.
THE NUMBERS
The Hornets got five hits from five different players with RBI from LaMunyon and Wheat. Hanna reached base twie and scored both times for Emporia State.
Plank went 6.0 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits with four strikeouts.
UP NEXT
The deciding game of the three game set will be on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field in Warrensburg, Mo.
