April 21, 2018- Emporia State baseball took game two of the three game series 5-4 over Central Missouri on Saturday. The Hornets used 11 hits and three Mules errors to get the win.
After exchanging outs in the first inning, the Mules got on the board first with two runs in the bottom of the second. The Hornets answered quick and took the lead with three runs in the top of the third as Brandon Bachar lead off the inning with a double down the left field line. Brian Grove hit a bunt single and advanced to second on a throwing error that scored Bachar. Grove advanced to third base on a bunt single from Mack Gowing. Gowing advanced to second and Grove scored when Bryce Fischer grounded out to first base. Gowing later scored when Kaden Shaffer hit a double to right field to give the Hornets the 3-2 lead.
The Mules took the lead 4-3 with two runs in the bottom of the fourth with two runs on one hit and one Hornet error. In the top of the fifth the Hornets tied the game at 4-4 on a home run from Fischer over the right field fence.
The teams exchanged runs for the next five innings to stay tied at 4-4 going into extra innings. In the top of the 11th the Hornets took the lead with one run on one hit to take the 5-4 win. Trevor Turner lead off for the Hornets and walked. Taylor Sanagorski put down a sacrifice bunt to advance Turner to second. Tate Kastens double down the right field line to drive Turner in for the game winning run.
The Hornets combined for 11 hits lead by Mack Gowing and Mason Brown with two hits each. Brian Grove, Bryce Fischer, Kaden Shaffer, Trevor Turner, Taylor Sanagorski, Tate Kastens and Brandon Bachar each had one hit for the Hornets. Fischer had the lone home run for the Hornets.
Tanner Cairns started on the mound for the Hornets and pitched 9.0 innings allowing four runs on eight hits with four K's. Nathan Gieber came in for the Hornets in extra innings pitching 2.0 innings and allowing just two hits to get his first win of the season.
The Hornets will be back in action on Sunday as they wrap up the three game series against Central Missouri.
