February 26, 2018- Emporia State Baseball fell on Monday in game three of the series against Northwest Missouri. The Hornets early lead could not hold up as the Bearcats battled back to force extra innings for the 12-11 win.
The Hornets got on the board early with three runs in the first inning followed by two in the top of the second giving them a 5-0 lead after one and a half innings. The Bearcats answered back with a four run bottom of the second before teams exchanged runs in the third inning making the score 6-5. The Hornets extended their lead to 10-5 with one run in each of the next innings before a two run top of the sixth. The Bearcats brought the game within 10-8 in the bottom of the sixth with three runs. In both the seventh and eighth innings the Bearcats scored one run to tie the game heading into the ninth. The teams would exchange outs for three innings before the Hornets broke the tie with a run in the top of the 12th inning. The 11-10 lead proved not enough as the Bearcats hit a two run home run to take the 12-11 lead and the win.
At the plate for the Hornets Tanner Arst had three hits in five at bats while Brandon Bachar had three hits in six at bats. Trevor Turner, Kyle Lopez, Bryce Fischer and Mason Brown each had two hits for the Hornets. The Hornets had eight players score at least one run and three who scored multiple runs.
On the mound Adam Thies started for the Hornets and pitched one and two thirds innings allowing four runs on six hits before being replaced by Nathan Gieber. Gieber pitched four innings allowing four runs on eight hits. Trey Taylor replaced Gieber and pitched one inning allowing one run on one hit before being replaced by Layne Downing. Downing pitched one and a third inning allowing one run on one hit before being replaced by Taylor Thompson. Thompson finished the game for the Hornets pitching three and one third innings allowing two runs on three hits.
The Hornets will be back in action on Friday March 2, 2018 as they play host to Southwest Baptist on Glennen Field at the Trusler Sports Complex.
