March 29, 2018- Emporia State baseball takes game one 7-5 over Fort Hays State. The Hornets used early scoring and good pitching for the win.
The Hornets had hot bats to start the game scoring three runs in the bottom of the first as Brian Grove, Kaden Shaffer and Mason Brown scored on hits from Brown, Trevor Turner and Tate Kastens hit by pitch. In the bottom of the second the Hornets scored one run as Grove doubled up the middle and was driven in by a single from Mack Gowing. After exchanging outs for two innings the Hornets got a run in the bottom of the fifth when Brown was driven home by Kyle Lopez with an RBI single. Teams exchanged outs again in the sixth and seventh innings before the Tigers got on the board with one run in the top of the eighth. The Hornets were quick to answer as Bryce Fischer hit a two run home run bringing in Brandon Bachar who had reached on an error earlier in the inning. The Tigers made a late comeback attempt scoring four runs in the top of the ninth, but the Hornets defense held on to win 7-5 over the Tigers.
The Hornets had seven players with at least one hit each led by Mason Brown with two hits and two runs in five at bats. Trevor Turner added two hits for the Hornets. Brian Grove had one hit and two runs. Kaden Shaffer and Bryce Fischer each had one hit and one run for the Hornets. Fischer had the lone home run for the Hornets.
Seth Holman started on the mound for the Hornets and pitched 8.0 innings allowing just one run on four hits with 10 K's before being replaced by Taylor Thompson. Thompson pitched 0.1 inning allowing four runs on four hits. Nathan Gieber finished the game for the Hornets and got the save pitching 0.2 innings allowing just one hit with one K.
The Hornets are back in action Friday as they continue the series against Fort Hays State.
