February 17, 2017-The #30 Hornets took advantage of 24 hits and six Miner errors in a 22-8 win over #35 Missouri S&T on Friday at the Trusler Sports Complex.
Emporia State fell behind 1-0 in the top of the first, but quickly came back with two runs in the bottom of the inning. The Miners then sent ten men to the plate in the top of the second, scoring seven to take an 8-2 lead. Tanner Cairns came on with two outs in the inning in relief of emergency starter Tyler Buss and was able to get out of the inning thanks to Mason Brown picking off a runner at first to end the inning.
The Hornets added two unearned runs in the bottom of the second thanks to failed pick-off attempt and a dropped fly ball in the outfield. They pulled within a run thanks to a three RBI homer by Taylor Sanagorski in the bottom of the third. BJ Dean singled with one out in the fourth and tied the game on Kaden Shaffer's triple. Shaffer gave the Hornets the lead on the play as the Miners throw to try and get him out at third sailed into the dugout.
Mack Gowing, who had gotten Emporia State on the board with his lead off homer in the first, added a pair of insurance runs with a double in the fifth inning for an 11-8 lead. The Hornets plated three more runs in the sixth and then added five more in the seventh, three of them on a home run from Shaffer for a 19-8 lead.
Five pinch hitters all delivered for the Hornets in the eighth with each of them reaching base and either scoring a run or getting an RBI as Emporia State passed 20 runs for the third game this season.
Shaffer was three for four with six RBI, three runs, a double, triple and home run while Gowing went three for five with five RBI, two doubles and a home run. Wade Hanna broke out of an early slump, going three for three with three runs scored.
Cairns got the win in relief, tossing 5.1 scoreless innings and allowing just five hits. Jacob Tetuan and Brndan Jaynes each tossed an inning of no hit ball to wrap up the game.
The Hornets and Miners will play the middle game of their three game series on Saturday starting at 1:00 p.m. on Glennen Field at the Trusler Sports Complex.
