May 12, 2017-Top seeded Emporia State scored one run in the first inning, but could not get another one across in a 2-1 loss to Missouri Southern on Friday morning in the first round of the MIAA Tournament in Joplin, Mo. With the loss Emporia State will play an elimination game at 9:00 p.m. on Friday against Central Missouri, who lost 4-3 to Central Oklahoma.
Alex White singled in the first to extend his streak of reaching base safely to 32 straight games for the Hornets. After a walk to Ryan McBroom and a wild pitch Mason Brown got a ground out to second that plated White and gave Emporia State a 1-0 lead.
Seth Holman made the lead hold up for 6.2 innings on the mound for the Hornets. He got an out to start the top of the seventh before hitting Joe Paulino. It looked like the Hornets would get out of the inning when Alec Alvarez hit a ground ball to second. McBroom's throw to Levi Ashmore covering second was off line which gave Alvarez time to beat the throw to first. Mike Million worked a walk and the Hornets brought Trey Taylor in to relieve Holman. MIAA Player of the Year Max Hogan delivered a ground rule double down the right field line to tie the score for the Lions.
Taylor Thompson started the ninth for the Hornets on the mound and Tyler Sutherland greeted him with a single that just missed Ashmore's glove to get into left center. After a sac bunt Brett Graham gave the Lions the lead with a single to left. Emporia State kept it within a run by turning their 51st double play of the year to end the inning. Ashmore got a one out bunt single and was stranded at second in the Hornets half of the eighth.
Thompson retired the Lions in order in the top of the ninth. The Hornets, who have five wins this year when trailing going into the ninth, got the tying run on base when Mack Gowing reached on a throwing error by Trever Burkdoll. Kaden Shaffer then hit into a game ending double play to force the Hornets into the loser's bracket.
Ashmore was two for four for the Hornets while White went one for three with a run scored. Holman went 6.2 innings, allowing one run on five hits with seven strikeouts and two walks. Thompson suffered his first loss allowing one run on two hits in 2.0 innings. Colin Chandler went the distance for the Lions allowing one run on six hits with three strikeouts and two walks.
Emporia State will take on Central Missouri in an elimination game at 9:00 p.m. on Friday night. It is the earliest the Hornets and Mules have met in an elimination game in an MIAA Tournament that was in double elimination.
