HORNETS FALL TO #9 CENTRAL MISSOURI IN CENTRAL REGIONAL BASEBALL TOURNAMENT

May 20, 2016-Emporia State got six scoreless innings from their bullpen but could not overcome a four run third inning by Central Missouri in a 6-3 loss in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in St. Cloud, Minn.
 
Both teams were scoreless in the first before Bennett Oliver hit a solo home run in the second to get the Mules on the board.  Jackson Schnurbusch then doubled in Cole Distler for a 2-0 Central Missouri lead.  Emporia State starter Garrett Brummett got the first two batters of the third out before hitting Jake Alexander.  Oliver followed with an RBI double and later scored on Derek Cornell's single.  Distler then homered to give the Mules a 6-0 lead before Brummett struck out Schnurbusch to end the inning.
 
Jacob Tetuan pitched a perfect fourth and fifth before giving way to Trey Taylor in the sixth.  He gave up a lead off single to Distler who advanced to third on a stolen base and a fly out.  McBroom threw him out trying to score on a ground ball to second and Taylor struckout Blake Wilfong to end the inning.
 
The Hornets finally got on the board in the sixth when Jonny Hodges reached on a one out single. He went to second on Tucker Perkins single to left and scored on Daniel LaMunyon's double.
 
Shane Davies came on to start the eighth inning and struck out Oliver before giving up back to back walks to Cornell and Distler.  Tevin Renken relieved Davis and got out of the inning when Matt Safranek lined out to McBroom who was able to tag out Distler who was running on the pitch for the unassisted double play.
 
Dalton Wheat began the eighth with a home run to right field, the first homer for the Hornets in the post season.  Koehler walked on four pitches and the Mules brought in Lucas Williams to replace Ethan Westphal.  Perkins walked  to put two runners on and McBroom delivered an RBI single that pulled the Hornets within 6-3.
 
Central Missouri got two runners on in the top of the ninth but Renken got back to back ground balls to third to end the inning.  The last one was ball hit to deep third that LaMunyon was able to grab and throw across to get the final out.
 
Wheat was hit by a pitch with two outs in the ninth but would be erased on a fielder's choice to end the game.
 
McBroom was two for four with an RBI and Wade Hanna joined him with two hits.  Wheat was one for four with the solo home run.
 
Brummett took the loss, allowing all six runs on just five hits with a walk, two hit batters and two strike outs in 3.0 innings.  Tetuan, Taylor, Davies and Renken combined to pitch 6.0 innings of two hit relief and did not allow a run.
 
The Hornets will now face tournament host St. Cloud State in an elimination game on Saturday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. in St. Cloud, Minn.
 
NOTES:
The Hornets have outscored their opponents 7-0 from the sixth inning on during the NCAA Tournament this year.