February 9, 2018-Emporia State scored five runs in the seventh inning to break open their 10-6 win and series sweep over Metro State in Denver, Colo. Bryce Fischer was a triple shy from hitting for the cycle as he went three for four with a home run and four runs scored. The Hornets turned four double plays in the game, three of them being inning-ending double plays.
Fischer hit his second home run of the year in the top of the first to give the Hornets an early 1-0 lead. Tanner Cairns was able to escape a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the first with a double play on a lineout to the second baseman, Brian Grove. The Hornets would score two runs in the second inning on a Brandon Bachar triple that would bring Trevor Turner and Tate Kastens home to score. The Roadrunners loaded the bases again in the bottom of the second and scored on an RBI single and an RBI walk to chase Cairns from the game. After giving up an RBI sac fly, Layne Downing was able to get out of the inning with the score tied 3-3.
After leading off the third inning with a double, Fischer would advance to third on a groundout and come around to score on a Mason Brown RBI sac fly to center. The Hornets would get their second inning-ending double play in the bottom of the third on a lineout to centerfield. The Roadrunners were able to tie up the game again in the bottom of the fourth with an RBI double. Connor Burns relieved Downing and was able to get a big strikeout to end the fourth inning with the bases loaded. The Hornets would break the tie in the top of the fifth when Fischer scored on an RBI groundout from Kyle Lopez to make the score 5-4.
The score would remain 5-4 until the Hornets big, five-run seventh inning. Grove led off the inning with a walk and then went to second on a stolen base. Fischer singled up the middle to score Grove and went to third on a double by Kaden Shaffer. After a Mason Brown walk, Lopez drove in Fischer and Grove with a single to right. A sac bunt put runners at second and third and Turner brought them home on a one-out single up the middle. Pinch-hitter, Jack Wilson, would get the fifth RBI of the inning on a fielder's choice to give the Hornets a 10-4 lead.
The Roadrunners would get two runs in the bottom of the seventh but that was where the scoring would end. Mason LeClair was able to close out the game by striking out back-to-back batters to put an exclamation point on a series sweep against the Roadrunners.
Lopez finished the game two for four with three RBI while Turner went a perfect three for three at the plate with an RBI, a walk, and a run scored. The Hornets used seven pitchers to help secure the win. Max Simpson picked up a win in his first appearance of the year after going 2.1 innings and getting two strikeouts. Downing gave up three hits over 2.2 innings pitched and struck out two. With his two strikeouts today, LeClair now has five strikeouts in five innings pitched this year.
The Hornets play their home opener against Newman on Friday, February 16. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. at Glennen Field in the Trusler Sports Complex.
