April 7, 2018- Emporia State fell 9-7 in eleven innings in the opener against Neb.-Kearney on Saturday. The Hornets scored seven runs on 12 hits and committed four errors in the game.
The Hornets got on the board in the bottom of the first after the first two hitters were able to reach base. After a sac bunt, Brian Grove came home to score on an RBI groundout from Kaden Shaffer to give the Hornets a 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the second, the first two Hornets were able to reach base again. Brandon Bachar was able to pick up an RBI on his groundout to the shortstop. After the Lopers scored a run in the top of the third, Bryce Fischer led the bottom of the frame off with a triple. Shaffer would drive in Fischer on his single to make the score 3-1 in favor of Emporia State. The Lopers would tie the game in the top of the fifth, scoring two runs on four hits in the inning. In the top of the seventh, the Lopers would break the tie on a one-out single up the middle. The Hornets would respond with a run in the bottom of the frame to tie the game at 4-4. Emporia State led the inning off with back-to-back walks and Mason Brown was able to come around and score on a throwing error. Nathan Gieber was able to come in and throw a scoreless eighth and ninth inning as the game headed to extra innings. After a scoreless tenth inning, the Lopers were able to score five runs in the top half of the 11th. The Hornets would rally in the bottom of the eleventh as Kaden Shaffer opened the inning off with his third walk of the game. Later in the inning, he would score on a Loper's error off the bat of Trevor Turner. In the next at-bat, Tanner Arst hit a two-run home run down the left field line. The rally would end there as the Hornets lost 9-7 in extra innings of game one.
Taylor Sanagorski was three for five at the plate with a run scored. Brandon Bachar had two hits and an RBI in the game. Tanner Arst hit his second home run of the year. Kaden Shaffer picked up two RBI in the game to give him 30 on the season. Bryce Fischer, Mason Brown, and Trevor Turner each had a hit and a run scored for the Hornets.
Seth Holman made his tenth start of the season, going seven innings and striking out four. Nathan Gieber pitched 3.1 innings of relief as he gave up two earned runs and had three strikeouts.
The Hornets will look to bounce back in game two of the series against Neb.-Kearney on Sunday, April 8. First pitch from Glennen Field is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
