March 30, 2018- Emporia State baseball took game two of the series 12-4 over Fort Hays State on Friday. The Hornets advance to 17-12 on the season, 8-8 in the MIAA.
The Tigers got on the board first with one run in the top of the first, but the Hornets answered with two of their own in the bottom of the second to take the lead 2-1. In the bottom of the third the Hornets got one run to extend their lead when Brian Grove scored an unearned run after a failed pickoff attempt and Kaden Shaffer singled to right field. In the bottom of the fourth Kyle Lopez walked and Brandon Bachar singled before they were driven home by a triple from Grove. Grove was driven in by Bryce Fischer hitting a double to right center field to extend the Hornets lead to 6-1. In the top of the fifth the Tigers got one run to make it 6-2 heading into the bottom of the fifth. After exchanging outs in the sixth, the Hornets got four runs on five hits as Mack Gowing, Fischer, Shaffer, Mason Brown and Taylor Sanagorski each got hits in the inning. The Tigers got two runs in the top of the eighth to close the gap to 10-4 before Bryce Fischer walked and scored on a double from Kaden Shaffer in the bottom of the inning. Shaffer was driven home by Trevor Turner to end the scoring in the game at 12-4.
The Hornets had 15 hits in the game and nine players with at least one hit each. Bryce Fischer and Kaden Shaffer led the Hornets with three hits and two runs each. Mason Brown and Mack Gowing each added two hits for the Hornets while Brian Grove, Trevor Turner, Kyle Lopez, Taylor Sanagorski and Brandon Bachar each added one.
Tanner Cairns started on the mound for the Hornets and pitched 8.0 innings allowing four runs on eight hits with three K's before being replaced by Trey Taylor. Taylor pitched one inning allowing just one hit with one K to finish the game.
The Hornets will be back in action Saturday to finish out the three game series against Fort Hays State.
