May 11, 2018- Emporia State Baseball fell 9-2 to Central Missouri in the second round of the MIAA Tournament on Friday. The Hornets are 1-1 in the tournament and will face an elimination game on Saturday.
The Mules got on the board first with one run on three hits in the top of the second inning. They were able to extend their lead with another one run inning in the top of the third before the Hornets tied the game with two runs in the bottom half of the inning. Kyle Lopez led off with a single to right field in the third before Tate Kastens tied the game at 2-2 with a two-run home run. The Hornets left one runner on as Grove walked and Gowing reached on a fielder's choice to get Grove out at second.
In the top of the fourth the Mules regained the lead with one run on two hits. In the bottom of the fourth the Hornets left two runners stranded as Mason Brown walked and advanced to second on a balk before Kaden Shaffer was walked. Trevor Turner was out at first on a sacrifice bunt to the third baseman to advance the runners before Lopez struck out and Kastens flied out to left field.
The Mules extended their lead to 4-2 in the top of the fifth with one run on one hit in the top of the fifth. The Hornets left two stranded in the bottom of the inning with one hit before retiring batters in order in the top of the sixth. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Shaffer walked and advanced to third on an error by the pitcher and Kastens walked as the Hornets left two runners stranded.
After exchanging outs in the seventh inning the Mules extended their lead to 7-2 with three runs on four hits and one Hornet error in the top of the eighth. In the top of the eighth the Mules used three hits to score two runs and extend their lead to 9-8 before retiring Hornet batters in order in the bottom half of the inning.
The Hornets had four hits in the game from four different players. Tate Kastens led the Hornets with one hit, one run and two RBI followed by Kyle Lopez with one hit and one run while Trevor Turner and Brian Grove each added one hit. Kastens had the lone home run to bring in both runs for the Hornets.
Tanner Cairns started on the mound for the Hornets and pitched 2.1 innings allowing two runs on five hits with one K before being replaced by Max Simpson. Simpson pitched 4.2 innings allowing two runs on three hits with one K. Nathan Gieber came out to start the seventh for the Hornets pitching 0.1 innings allowing three runs on four hits before being replaced by Trey Taylor. Taylor finished the seventh inning before Connor Burns came in to start the ninth. Burns got two outs in the inning before Drew Scrimsher came in to pitch the final out.
The Hornets will be back in action on Saturday at 9:00 a.m. as they take on Missouri Western in a MIAA Tournament elimination game.
