EMPORIA STATE BASEBALL TAKES 15-2 WIN OVER NORTHWEST MISSOURI IN ROUND ONE OF THE MIAA TOURNAMENT

May 10, 2018- Emporia State Baseball took the round one win 15-2 with a run-rule in seven innings over Northwest Missouri in Warrensburg, Mo. on Thursday. The Hornets thrived with two outs on the scoreboard as they scored 12 of their 15 runs with two outs.
 
The Hornets got on the board first with two runs on one hit in the top of the first inning. Bryce Fischer started things off for the Hornets getting on base with a two out walk. Fischer advanced to second with a walk from Mason Brown. Kaden Shaffer drove in the Hornets first run with a double to right center field that advanced Brown to third. Trevor Turner walked to load the bases before Kyle Lopez was walked to score Brown and give the Hornets the 2-0 lead going to the bottom of the first.
 
After retiring batters with no hits in the bottom of the first the Hornets exploded for 11 runs on nine hits in the top of the second. Brian Grove got on with a single through the right side and advanced to third on a single from Mack Gowing. The Hornets loaded the bases on a walk from Fischer. Brown was walked to advance the runners and score Grove to start the scoring for the Hornets in the inning. Shaffer continued the scoring with an RBI ground out before Turner walked to re-load the bases with two outs.
 
Leading 4-0 with two outs and the bases loaded the Hornets got seven consecutive hits to blow the game open. Lopez hit a two RBI single to left field that scored Fischer and Brown while advancing Turner to third with a fielding error in left field. Tate Kastens singled to right field to bring Turner home and extend the lead to 7-0. Brandon Bachar kept it going for the Hornets with a single up the middle to advance Kastens to third and score Lopez. Grove singled through the right side to advance Bachar and score Kastens. Grove advanced to third and bachar scored as Gowing singled and advanced to second on the throw. Fischer singled to left field and advanced to second on a fielding error which brought home Gowing and Grove to give the Hornets the 12-0 lead. Brown capped off the scoring at 13-0 for the Hornets with a RBI double down the third base line to bring Fischer home to score.
 
Teams exchanged outs in the third inning before the Hornets added one run to their lead in the top of the fourth. Fischer started things off for the Hornets with a two out double to left center field. Brown reached first after being hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. Shaffer walked to load the bases before runners advanced for Fischer to score on a wild pitch to extend the lead to 14-0 for the Hornets heading to the fifth.
 
The Bearcats got on the board with two runs on two hits in the bottom of the fifth inning to bring the score to 14-2. After exchanging outs in the sixth inning the Hornets capped off scoring for the game with one run in the top of the seventh. Bachar singled through the left side and advanced to second on a single from Grove. Gowing hit a RBI double down the left field line to drive Bachar in and end scoring at 15-2 for the Hornets.
 
The Hornets had 16 hits in the game with eight players with at least one hit. Bryce Fischer led the Hornets with three hits and four runs followed by Brian Grove and Mack Gowing each with three hits and two runs. Tate Kastens and Brandon Bachar each added two hits while Mason Brown, Kaden Shaffer and Kyle Lopez each added one hit.
 
Seth Holman started the game on the mound for the Hornets and pitched 3.0 innings facing ten batters allowing just two hits with four K's. Adam Thies came in to pitch in the fourth inning and allowed two runs on two hits before being replaced by Connor Burns to start the sixth. Burns pitched the final two innings for the Hornets allowing just one hit with two K's.
 
The Hornets will be back in action on Friday at 4:00 p.m. as they take on the host team of Central Missouri in the second round of the MIAA Tournament. The Hornets will be the home team on the scoreboard due to the Mules having been the home team in game one of the tournament.