April 14, 2017-Tanner Cairns went 7.0 innings and two Hornet relievers finished the final two innings for Emporia State's seventh shutout of the season in a 7-0 win at Northeastern State on Friday afternoon.
Kaden Shaffer singled in Mack Gowing in the second inning to get the Hornets on the board. The one run lead held until Emporia State erupted for five runs in the sixth inning. The first seven Hornets reached base with Mason Brown getting a bases loaded walk to drive in the first run of the inning. Gowing then delivered a two run single for a 4-0 lead. Taylor Sanagorski reached on the third error of the inning by the RiverHawks allowing Brown to score. With runners on first and second and no outs, BJ Dean grounded into a double play with Gowing scoring from second to give Emporia State a 6-0 lead. The Hornets added a run in the eighth when Dean tripled in Shaffer with two outs.
That was more than enough for the Hornet pitching staff. Cairns did not allow a run in 7.0 innings with scattering four hits and five walks while striking out two. Trey Taylor worked a perfect eighth and Nathan Gieber pitched a scoreless ninth. Gowing went one for four with two runs and two RBI while Shaffer was two for two with a run scored and an RBI. Ryan McBroom and Dean both had two hits as well.
The Hornets, now 30-8 on the season and 19-5 in the MIAA, will go for the series sweep on Saturday in Tahlequah, Okla. First pitch is set for 12:00 p.m. at Rousey Field.
