February 8, 2018-Brian Grove had five hits on the day and Adam Thies had a career high ten strikeouts in game two as Emporia State swept a double header from Metro State in Denver, Colo. The Hornets came from behind to win 9-8 in the matinee and then took a 5-1 win in the night cap.
Emporia State 9, Metro State 8
The Hornets had base runners in each of the first two innings but double plays kept them from scoring in either frame. Bryce Fischer gave the Hornets a 1-0 lead in the third inning with a two out RBI single that plated Trevor Turner, who had reached on a error to start the inning. Meanwhile Seth Holman retired the first six batters he faced until Draven Adame reached on an error short stop Brandon Bachar to lead off the bottom of the third. Two outs and two singles later Donnie Ortiz Jr. gave the Roadrunners a 2-1 lead with a two RBI double. Trent Maloney followed with another double to make it 3-1.
Grove led off the fourth with a home run to pull the Hornets back within a run but Metro State got a two RBI single from Jimmy Hollinger to take a 5-2 lead. Fischer doubled in Kaden Shaffer and after a Mason Brown single, Grove plated Fischer with a double to make it 5-4 Metro State. Taylor Sanagorski then delivered a two RBI single to put Emporia State up 6-5. Cale O'Donnell answered for the Roadrunners in the bottom of the fifth with a RBI single to tie the game at 6-6 and chase Holman from the game. Nathan Gieber came in and after a walk got a double play to end the inning.
Gieber made it two outs into the bottom of the seventh before giving up a single and getting pulled for Taylor Thompson. O'Donnell greeted Thompson with a double that scored Maloney and gave Metro State a 7-6 lead.
The Hornets loaded the bases in the top of the eighth on two walks and a hit batter. Shaffer reached on a fielder's choice that plated two runs and gave Emporia State an 8-7 lead. A single up the middle by Fischer plated Shaffer and gave the Hornets an insurance run headed into the bottom of the eighth. Thompson worked a scoreless eighth thanks in part to Brown picking Hunter Donaldson off first base after his lead off single. The Hornets had a similar fate in the top of the ninth when Grove walked and advanced to third before getting picked off. The pick off did not come back to haunt the Hornets as Mason LeClair worked a one run bottom of the ninth, allowing a sac fly before ending the game with a strikeout.
Bryce Fischer went four for five with three RBI and a run scored while Brian Grove was three for four with two RBI and two runs scored. Kaden Shaffer also had two hits in five at bats with two RBI and two runs. Seth Holman worked the first 4.1 innings and allowed six runs on ten hits with three strikeouts and no walks. Taylor Thompson pitched 1.1 innings and did not officially give up a run while allowing three hits to pick up the win. Mason LeClair worked the ninth and allowed one run on one hit for his first save.
Emporia State 5, Metro State 1
Taylor Sanagorski gave the Hornets a 1-0 lead in the second when he drove in Kyle Lopez with a double down the right field line. Emporia State went up 2-0 in the third on a ground out by Bryce Fischer that plated Mack Gowing.
That was more than enough for Adam Thies who retired the first 11 Roadrunners he faced. He took a no hitter into the fourth when Trent Maloney reached on an infield single.
The Hornets added three runs in the top of the seventh to take control of the game. Brian Grove got an RBI double that scored Brandon Bachar. Gowing, who had gone to third on Grove's double, then scored on a wild pitch to make it 4-0. Grove would later score on a passed ball to give the Hornets a 5-0 lead going to the bottom of the seventh.
Thies got one out in the bottom of the seventh before Cale O'Donnell got the Roadrunners on the board with a homer to left field. Jacob Tetuan then came on in relief and got two outs, the last on a strike out to end the game.
Brian Grove was two for four with an RBI and a run scored while Mack Gowing went one for four with two runs scored. Thies scattered three hits and allowed just one run in 6.1 innings while striking out ten with no walks.
The Hornets and Roadrunners are scheduled to complete their three game series on Friday afternoon. First pitch from the Regency Athletic Complex in downtown Denver, Colo. is set for 12:00 p.m. (MT).
