March 17, 2017-The #15 Hornets scored 15 runs on 14 hits and 11 walks in a 15-1 run rule win at Ft. Hays State on Friday evening.
Emporia State stranded four runners through the first two innings, but did not get a hit until BJ Dean delivered an RBI single after walks to Mason Brown and Kaden Shaffer. The Hornets added two more runs when Levi Ashmore struck out swinging but the ball got away from the Tiger catcher Trevor Hughes and his throw was wild and allowed Shaffer and Dean to score.
The Tigers made it 3-1 thanks to a walk and a balk in the bottom of the fourth inning. But Emporia State responded with a six run top of the fifth. Ryan McBroom led off with a single and Dean knocked a two run home run to left center. Daniel LaMunyon singled, went first to third on a single by Ashmore and then stole home to make it 6-1. Alex White then singled in Ashmore before Mason Brown capped the inning with a two run homer of his own to left center.
Emporia State added a run on a wild pitch in the top of the seventh, then put the game away with five runs in the top of the eighth. The Hornets took advantage of two Tiger errors in the frame to go up 15-1.
Dean was two for four with three RBI and two runs scored while Ashmore went two for three with three runs and an RBI. Seth Holman scattered five hits over 6.0 innings with three walks and four strikeouts. Brendan Janes and Zac Shaw each gave up just one hit while working a scoreless inning each in relief.
The Hornets and Tigers will meet in the middle game of the three game set on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. at Lark's Park in Hays, Kan.
