May 20, 2016-In a game that did not finish until after midnight, Tyler Stubblefield tossed a complete game four hitter as Emporia State shut out #29 Minnesota-Duluth 4-0 to end the first day of the NCAA Central Regional Tournament.
Neither team could get on the board in the first six innings, although Emporia State had plenty of chances. After being retired in order in the first and second, the Hornets had runners in scoring position in each of the next six innings. Emporia State had two on with no outs in the third, the bases loaded with one out in the fourth, a runner on second in the fifth and the bases loaded with one out in the sixth before finally getting on the board in the seventh inning.
Dalton Wheat was hit by a pitch to start the inning and went first to third on Daniel LaMunyon's single. Colton Sinning come on in relief of Bo Hellquist and gave up back to back walks to Derek Francis and Evan Koehler as the Hornets took a 1-0 lead. Wes Mleziva relieved Sinning and after getting a strike out threw the ball away on pick off attempt at third that allowed LaMunyon to score and give Emporia State a 2-0 lead.
With a 2-0 lead Stubblefield faced his only real adversity of the night in the bottom of the seventh. He got Regional Player of the Year Alex Wojciechowski on a comebacker to the mound for the first out, then gave up a single to Kyle Comer and a walk to Jimmy Heck to put a runner on second for the only time in the game. Stubblefield then struck out Tyler Wojciechowski and Dalton Wheat made a sliding catch on a sinking liner in left field to end the inning.
Emporia State added two more unearned runs in the top of the eighth. Wheat reached on an error by shortstop Brian Pierce with one out and went to second on a wild pitch. He would score on a LaMunyon double to give the Hornets a 3-0 lead. After Francis flied out, LaMunyon stole third as Koehler walked and came home when Wade Hanna reached on a bunt single.
That was more than enough for Stubblefield who retired the final eight batters he faced and became the first Hornet to throw back to back nine inning complete games since Derek Brooks in 2011 against Northwest Missouri and Southeastern Oklahoma. He had a season high 11 strikeouts and gave up just four hits and one walk to a team that led the nation in home runs, was ranked second in slugging percentage and third in both batting average and on base percentage in the nation.
LaMunyon was two for five with a double, two runs and an RBI. Wheat was officially hitless in four at bats but scored two runs. Koehler went one for two officially with an RBI and three walks as he reached base in each of his last four plate appearances.
Emporia State will take on #9 Central Missouri on Friday night at 8:30 p.m. in the winner's bracket. It will be the fourth meeting this season between the Hornets and Mules.
