EMPORIA STATE BASEBALL TAKES GAME TWO OF THE SERIES OVER NORTHEASTERN STATE ON SATURDAY

April 28, 2018- Emporia State Baseball takes game two 8-1 over Northeastern State on Saturday. The Hornets used 13 hits to take down the RiverHawks.
 
After exchanging outs for the first three innings, the RiverHawks got on the board first with one run on three hits in the top of the fourth inning. The Hornets got on the board with one run in the bottom of the sixth inning with one run on three hits. Brian Grove singled through the left side to lead off the inning and advanced to third on a double from Mack Gowing. Grove was driven home as Mason Brown reached base on a fielder's choice to tie the game at 1-1.
 
In the bottom of the seventh inning the Hornets took the lead 7-1 with six runs on five hits. Kyle Lopez lead off the inning with a single to left field. Garrett Francis came in to pinch run for Lopez. Tate Kastens hit a sacrifice bunt to advance Francis to second and Brandon Bachar was hit by a pitch. Grove struck out for the second out of the inning before runners advanced on a wild pitch. Mack Gowing single to drive in Francis and advance Bachar to third. Fischer walked and advanced Gowing to second before Brown singled through the left side to drive in Bachar and Gowing. Kaden Shaffer doubled down the left field line to drive in Fischer and Brown extending the Hornets lead to 6-1. Trevor Turner singled up the middle to bring home Shaffer from second to end scoring for the Hornets in the inning at 7-1.
 
In the bottom of the eighth the Hornets scored 1 run on 2 hits to extend their lead to 8-1 over the RiverHawks. Kastens lead off for the Hornets with a single to left field and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Kastens scored on a double to right center field from Grove to end scoring at 8-1.
 
The Hornets had 13 hits in the game led by Mack Gowing and Kaden Shaffer each with three hits. Brian Grove and Mason Brown each added two hits for the Hornets while Trevor Turner, Kyle Lopez and Tate Kastens each added one hit.
 
Tanner Cairns started on the mound and pitched the complete 9.0 innings for the Hornets allowing just one run on eight hits with eight K's.

Game Note:
With the second complete game of the series thrown by Cairns, this is the first back to back 9.0 inning complete games by ESU baseball since Dakota McKaskle and Kevin Shafer on April 3 and April 6 of 2013.
 
The Hornets will be back in action on Sunday at 12:00 p.m. as they wrap up the weekend series against Northeastern State on Senior Day at Trusler Sports Complex.