April 23, 2017 - The #14 Hornet baseball team hung on for a 10-8 win over the Lions on Sunday afternoon to improve to 34-8 on the season and 23-5 in the MIAA. Mason Brown led Emporia State, hitting four for five with three RBI.
ALL TIED UP
Lindenwood started the game with two runs in the top of the first to take their only lead of the game at 2-0. Emporia State answered with two runs of their own in the bottom of the first from an Alex White double and a Brown single. Both teams were scoreless through the next three innings before the Hornets plated another three runs on five hits in the bottom of the fifth to take a 5-2 lead. The inning did not look promising after the first two batters were struck out, but five hits in a row by Emporia State an edge. Levi Ashmore singled to left center to plate Wade Hanna. Three batters and a pitching change later, Brown doubled down the left field line to score two more. The lead did not last long for the Hornets as the Lions scored three runs of their own in the top of the sixth to tie the game yet again, this time at five runs a piece.
REGAIN CONTROL
Emporia State had a pair of two run innings followed by another run in the eight to take a 10-5 lead heading into the ninth. Taylor Sanagorski and BJ Dean each had a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth to regain the Emporia State lead 7-5. In the bottom of the seventh, Mack Gowing singled up the middle on a bases loaded situation to score two and give the Hornets a 9-5 lead. Hanna scored again in the eighth, this time on an Ashmore double to score the final run for Emporia State.Â
LIONÂ ROAR
Lindenwood did not go quietly as they scored three runs on two hits in the top of the ninth to finish the game 10-8. Nathan Whitcomb had a one pitch save in the ninth for his eighth of the season.
BY THE NUMBERS
The Hornets had four doubles and two home runs on a .421 batting average for the day. Joining Brown, White hit three for five while also scoring three runs. Ashmore, Hanna and Sanagorski all went two for four, Ashmore with two runs and two RBI. Trey Taylor improved to 2-0 on the season, pitching 1.1 innings and allowing no runs on two hits with no walks. Tanner Cairns started for Emporia State, tossing 5.2 innings, allowing five runs, four earned, on six hits with three walks and two strikeouts.
NOTE
Wade Hanna tied Mike Carlson for fifth on the Emporia State all-time career list with 41 doubles on Sunday. He needs five more to tie Kenny Burkhead and Brad Bascue for third on the career list.
UP NEXT
The #14 Hornets will try for the sweep on Monday, April 24 against Lindenwood. First pitch will be at 1:00 p.m. on Glennen Field at Trusler Sports Complex.
