March 18, 2017-For the second time in three games Daniel LaMunyon hit a late inning, game winning home run as #15 Emporia State defeated Ft. Hays State 5-4 on Saturday afternoon in Hays, Kan.
The Tigers took their first lead of the series thanks to two walks, two singles and a wild pitch as they scored two runs in the bottom of the second. Levi Ashmore hit an RBI single that plated LaMunyon in the top of the fourth to cut the lead in half.
Ryan McBroom hit a solo homer with two outs in the sixth to tie the game at 2-2. The Tigers responded with two runs in the bottom of the sixth on a sac fly and a double to take a 4-2 lead.
With one out in the eighth Mason Brown singled to right and went to second on Kaden Shaffer's single through the left side. LaMunyon's heroics came one out later when he hit a home run to left to give the Hornets a 5-4 lead.
Taylor Thompson, who had relieved starter Tanner Cairns in the sixth, got the first two outs of the eighth before putting the tying run on base with a hit batter. Nathan Whitcomb came in and after giving up a single ended the inning with a strikeout. He allowed a one out single in the ninth before ending the game with a strikeout for his fifth save of the year.
Eight Hornets got at least one hit while McBroom went two for four with a solo home run while LaMunyon was one for four with three RBI and two two runs scored.
Thompson picked up his third win, allowing no runs on two hits with four strikeouts in 2.0 innings while Whitcomb got his fifth save by working 1.1 scoreless innings and giving up two hits with two strikeouts.
The Hornets go for the series sweep of the Tigers on Sunday afternoon. First pitch at Lark's Park in Hays, Kan. is set for 12:00 p.m.
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