February 5, 2017-After scoring 35 runs in their first two games, #30 Emporia State were held to three runs in a 4-3 loss at Colorado State Pueblo on Sunday afternoon. The Hornets left 11 runners on base including the tying and go ahead run in the ninth inning.
The Thunderwolves took their first lead of the series with an unearned run in the second inning. Zac Hoffman led off with a single and went to second on a passed ball. He scored after two ground outs to give CSU-Pueblo a 1-0 lead. Tate Kastens drove in Mason Brown with a one out single in the fourth to tie the game at 1-1.
A lead off single followed by a sac bunt, hit batter and RBI single by Derron Davis gave the Thunderwolves a 2-1 lead and chased Hornet starter Jordan Plank. Layne Downing gave up a sac fly to Jake Boyd that put the Hornets in a 3-1 hole. Brown picked off a runner at first to get the Hornets out of the inning. CSU-Pueblo added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth on a pinch hit RBI single by Chris Devery. Jacob Tetuan took over for Downing and after a single got out of the inning with a pair of fly outs.
The bottom of the order started a comeback for the Hornets in the bottom of the ninth. Levi Ashmore led off with a single and pinch runner David Oropeza went to second when Ryan McBroom walked. With two outs Brown worked a walk to load the bases. Wade Hanna came through with a single up the middle that plated two and put him on base as the potential go ahead run. Colton Follett would then get his fifth strikeout in 3.0 innings for CSU-Pueblo to end the game.
The Hornets had some one on base in every inning but the third, with a runner in scoring position in each of the final six innings. Kastens was two for four with an RBI. Hanna finished one for four with two RBI while McRoom, Brown and Oropeza all scored a run. Jordan Plank took the loss allowing three runs, two of them earned in 4.1 innings pitched with four hits and one strikeout.
Emporia State makes their home debut next weekend when they play host to Metro State in a three game series. The action starts on Friday at 12 noon at the Trusler Sports Complex.
