HORNET BASEBALL FALLS IN MIAA SEMIFINAL TO MISSOURI WESTERN

May 15, 2016-Emporia State fell behind 7-0 in the fifth inning and fell 7-3 to Missouri Western in the MIAA Tournament semifinals on Sunday afternoon at the Lou Brock Sports Complex in St. Charles, Mo.
 
The Griffons scored in the top of the first on a David Glaude RBI single with one out off starter Matt Slauter.  The Hornets would threaten in three of the first four innings getting a runner in scoring position in the first, third and fourth innings, but could not get a run across.
 
After the first two batters in the top of the fourth were retired, the Griffons got a double by Brandon Downs, a single by Jeremy Alvarado and a bases clearing triple from Alex Heurig to take a 3-0 lead. Shane Davies relieved Slauter and got ground out to end the inning. They would add two runs in the fifth to go up 5-0 on back to back RBI singles from Kody Matthews and Nick Gawley.  Trey Taylor then came in and got a flyout and strikeout to end the inning.
 
A pair of defensive miscues led to the final two Griffon runs in the sixth inning.  After a walk, sac bunt and single put runners at the corners, Tevin Renken took over on the mound for Taylor.  Orencio Fisher laid down a bunt and there was a bit of hesitation before Renken tried to get Heurig coming home from third and the throw was late.  A ground out moved the runners up and a wild pitch let Landon Mason was able to score from third for a 7-0 Griffon lead.
 
The Hornets got on the board with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth. Derek Francis reached on an error and eventually scored on a double from Tucker Perkins.  Braxon Byfield singled through the left side to plate Perkins and pull the Hornets within 7-2.
 
Jake Eikleberry took over on the mound in the seventh and kept the Hornets in the game with three scoreless innings.
 
The Hornets manufactured a run in the seventh when Dalton Wheat was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and went to second on a balk.  A wild pitch moved him to third and Francis drove him in with a ground out to short to make it 7-3.  In the eighth Hanna was hit by a pitch and Byfield walked to put two runners on with two outs.  Conner Schwienebart came on in relief for the Griffons and Ryan McBroom pinch hit for Levi Ashmore.  McBroom sent a drive to deep left field that was run down to end the inning.
 
Hodges reached on a throwing error with one out in bottom of the ninth but Francis grounded into a double play to end the game.
 
Hodges was two for five while Byfield went one for three with an RBI. Francis was zero for five officially but had a run scored and an RBI.
 
Slauter got the loss allowing three runs on five hits in 3.2 innings pitched.  Eikleberry allowed one hit in 3.0 innings of relief with two strikeouts.
 
The Hornets now await their NCAA postseason fate.  The Central Regional Tournament field will be announced Sunday night at 9:00 p.m. (CT) on ncaa.com/LiveSchedule.  Should Emporia State receive an at large bid, the first games will be on Thursday, May 19.