May 7, 2016 - On Senior Day at the Trusler Sports Complex, Emporia State pounded out 17 hits on the way to a 14-8 win over Southwest Baptist on Saturday night.
For the third straight game Southwest Baptist jumped in front early as Carter Sherban drilled a two run home run that hugged the left field foul pole in the first inning. Taylor Steen drove in Daniel LaMunyon in the second to get the Hornets on the board.
The Bearcats again used the long ball to add to their lead in the top of the third. Christian Binger hit a solo home run and Jeff Bouchard had a two run homer to give SBU a 5-1 lead.
For the second straight game the Hornets were able to bat around in an inning to take control of the game. Wade Hanna started the bottom of the fourth with a double down the left field line and went to third on LaMunyon's single up the middle. Hanna would score on a wild pitch before Dalton Wheat extended his hitting streak to 21 games with a RBI double to left center. Jonny Hodges singled and Derek Francis walked to load the bases for Evan Koehler. The senior delivered a grand slam to right that gave the Hornets a 7-5 lead.
Shane Davies relieved Jordan Plank to start the fifth and gave up a solo homer to Sean Murley that cut the lead to 7-6. The Bearcats got two runners on to start the sixth before Tevin Renken relieved and retired the next three batters to get out of the inning.
Emporia State picked up some insurance runs in the seventh when Wheat hit his second double of the game to drive in LaMunyon. Hodges followed with a hustle double up the middle that scored Taylor Steen and Wheat to give the Hornets a 10-6 lead. Singles by Ryan McBroom and Hanna, along with a walk by Steen loaded the bases for Wheat in the eighth and the senior delivered with the Hornets second grand slam of the game to go up 14-6.
Renken allowed two singles to open the ninth and got a fly out before giving way to senior Connor Sjolander. His first pitch hit a batter to load the bases and they almost got out of the inning but could not complete a double play on a ground ball in the hole at short. A double by Hunter Hisky made it 14-8 before Sjolander got a ground ball to second to end the game.
Wheat was four for six with six RBI, three runs, two doubles and the grand slam. Hodges went three for six with two RBI and a run scored while LaMunyon was three for five with three runs scored. Koehler was one for three with two walks and a grand slam for four RBI and two great stretches at first base to record outs. He now has 22 home runs this season and is one away from tying the MIAA record of 23. Hanna went three for five with three runs scored and made a diving catch on the warning track in center field.
Renken went 3.1 innings allowing two runs on four hits with a strike out to pick up his first win of the season.
The Hornets will be either the number two or number three seed at the MIAA Tournament in St. Charles, Mo. starting on Thursday. If Central Missouri defeats Washburn on Sunday or the two do not play, the Hornets will be the #2 seed and play at 12:30 p.m. at the Lou Brock Sports Complex. A Washburn win would knock Emporia State to the three seed and they would play at 9:00 a.m. The official bracket will be released by the MIAA office on Sunday after the conclusion of all games.
