EMPORIA STATE BASEBALL TIES THE SERIES WITH WIN OVER NEBRASKA KEARNEY IN GAME TWO

April 8, 2018- Emporia State Baseball tied the series with a 12-8 win over Nebraska Kearney on Sunday.
 
The Hornets got on the board first with three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Brian Grove lead off with a triple to right center field for the Hornets and was driven home by Mack Gowing with a single up the middle. Gowing advanced to second on a bunt single from Bryce Fischer. Kaden Shaffer reached on a fielders choice that advanced Gowing to third. Mason Brown hit a sacrifice fly to right field that drove home Gowing before Taylor Sanagorski drove home Shaffer with a single through the left side.
 
Teams exchanged outs in the second inning before the Lopers scored three runs one solo home run and a two-run home run in the top of the third. The Hornets answered quickly in the bottom half of the inning. Trevor Turner hit a solo home run in to left field with two outs. Tanner Arst singled through the left side and advanced to third when Brandon Bachar reached on an error. Bachar stole second before Grove singled to first base to drive home Arst. Gowing doubled to center field bringing home Bachar and Grove. Fischer singled through the left side to advance Gowing to third before Shaffer singled to right field to drive Gowing home and give the Hornets the 8-3 lead.
 
After exchanging outs in the fourth inning the Lopers got one run in the top of the fifth. The Hornets again answered quickly with a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning using two hits and two walks to score Grove.
 
In the top of the seventh the Lopers got three runs on four hits. The Hornets followed with one run in the bottom of the inning as Brown and Sanagorski walked. Trevor Turner hit a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners and Arst grounded out to second base to drive home the run.
 
The Lopers got one run in the top of the eighth on two hits and one error by the Hornets. The Hornets answered quickly in the bottom of the inning as the leadoff hitter, Brian Grove hit a solo home run to keep the Hornets lead at three runs 11-8. Bryce Fischer extended the Hornets lead to 12-8 shortly later with a solo home run with one out in the inning.
 
The Hornets had seven players with at least one hit and four with at least three led by Brian Grove with five hits and four runs. Mack Gowing, Bryce Fischer and Tanner Arst each added three hits. Trevor Turner, Fischer and Grove each had a home run for the Hornets.
 
Tanner Cairns started on the mound for the Hornets and pitched 6.0 innings allowing six runs and seven hits with six K's before being replaced by Trey Taylor. Taylor pitched 1.0 inning allowing one run on two hits with two K's. Layne Downing came in to finish the game for the Hornets pitching 2.0 innings allowing one run on two hits with three K's.