May 6, 2016 - Emporia State battled back from a 5-0 deficit to run rule Southwest Baptist 16-6 in seven innings on Friday night at the Trusler Sports Complex.
The Bearcats got a three run home run from Carter Sherban in the first and added two runs in the second to take a 5-0 lead. The Hornets got on the board in the bottom of the third with a bases loaded walk to Evan Koehler that scored Dalton Wheat and a Wade Hanna ground out that plated Jonny Hodges. In the bottom of the fourth Hodges drove in Wheat with a single up the middle to make it 5-3.
Emporia State took the lead with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Braxon Byfield had an RBI single and Hodges had a two run single to give the Hornets the lead 6-5. Jacob Tetuan relieved Garrett Brummett to start the sixth and gave up a lead off double to Hunter Hisky. Hisky would score on a wild pitch and throwing error by Byfield to tie the game at 6-6. After giving up a walk, Tetuan was relieved by Jake Eikleberry who loaded the bases. With the bases loaded, Trey Taylor came on with two outs. While facing Sherban, a pitch got by Byfield who was able to get the ball and throw out Cody Massey trying to score, to keep the game tied.
Evan Koehler led off the bottom of the sixth with a home run to straight away center field that started an eight run inning. The Hornets got a two RBI double from Levi Ashmore and a two run single from Tucker Perkins to highlight the inning as they sent 14 men to the plate.
Sherban reached on an error by Ashmore to start the seventh before Ashmore made a diving play behind second for a force out. Jeff Boucherd singled and Hisky walked to load the bases before Taylor struck out the final two batters to end the inning.
Byfield was hit by a pitch to open the bottom of the seventh and went to third on Wheat's double to right field. Hodges then hit a hustle double to short center that scored Byfield and with one out, Koehler ended the game with a single to right.
Jonny Hodges went five for five with four RBI, a double, and two runs scored. Evan Koehler was three for four with four RBI and his league leading 21st home run. Dalton Wheat extended his hitting streak to 20 games going three for four with two walks and five runs scored. Brummett started and went five innings, giving up five runs on eight hits with six strike outs. Taylor picked up the win going 1.1 innings with one hit, one walk, and two strike outs.
The two teams will play the rubber game of the series on Saturday night at 5:00 p.m. at the Trusler Sports Complex. The 11 Hornet seniors will be recognized prior to the game.
