May 21, 2016-Tucker Perkins hit a two run home run in the top of the 12th and Jordan Plank tossed 6.0 innings of one hit relief as Emporia State eliminated #11 and top seeded St. Cloud State from the NCAA Central Regional on Saturday afternoon in St. Cloud, Minn.
Perkins scored the first and last runs of the day for Emporia State. He singled in the first, went to third on Derek Francis single and scored on a passed ball. The Hornets went up 2-0 in the second after back to back walk by Wade Hanna and Evan Koehler were followed by a sac bunt from Taylor Steen and an infield single by Dalton Wheat that plated Hanna. After a solo home run by Zak Hoffman in the second the Hornets went back up by two runs in the fifth when Perkins led off with a single and eventually scored on a ground out by Francis.
Meanwhile Jake Eikleberry allowed just one run on three hits through the first four innings with four strike outs. The Huskies tied the score in the fifth. A pair of singles led to a pitching change as Matt Slauter relieved Eikleberry. A bunt single loaded the bases and Reese Gregory singled in a run. Zach Hoffmann then tied it with a sac fly.
The Huskies took the lead in the seventh when Brandon Arnold led off with a double and scored when Daniel LaMunyon's errant throw on a sac bunt attempt by Kyle Leiser. Plank then relieved Slauter and got a ground out for the first out and then Wheat collected his second outfield assist of the tournament when gunned Leiser at the plate after catching Karl Sorenson's fly ball to complete the double play.
Jonny Hodges got a pinch hit single to lead off the eighth and went to second on Steen's sac bunt. After a short fly out Wheat was intentionally walked and Perkins tied the game with a single to center to tie the game.
Neither team scored over teh next three innings with Emporia State getting runners thrown out at the plate to end the ninth and tenth innings.
Levi Ashmore led off the 12th with a single and after Wheat flew out to right Perkins delivered the knock out blow with a home run to fight field for a 6-4 lead. The Huskies got a one out walk to bring the tying run to the plate but after a flyout Plank closed out the game with a strikeout to advance the Hornets to Sunday.
Perkins was four for seven with three RBI and two runs scored for the Hornets. Plank worked the final 6.0 innings, giving up just one hit and four walk while striking out five to get the win.Â
Emporia State will play Ark.-Monticello on Sunday afternoon at 12 noon in St. Cloud, Minn. in their second elimination game of the tournament. The winner will advance to play the loser of the last game on Saturday between Central Missouri and Minnesota State.
NOTES
It was the first extra inning win of the season for the Hornets, who had dropped two earlier games.
It was the first extra inning game in NCAA Tournament play for Emporia State since a 6-5 loss to Franklin Pierce in 11 innings in the 2006 NCAA Division II World Series.
It was the first extra inning win in an NCAA Tournament game by Emporia State since a 9-6 win in ten innings against Minnesota State in the 2006 Regional Championship game.
