EMPORIA STATE BASEBALL FALLS 2-1 TO CENTRAL MISSOURI IN THE MIAA CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

May 13, 2018- Emporia State Baseball fell 2-1 on Sunday to Central Missouri in the MIAA Championship game. The Hornets defeated Pittsburg State 11-5 in the semi-final game on Sunday morning to advance to the championship game to face Central Missouri.
 
Emporia State vs. Pittsburg State
The Hornets got on the board early with two runs in the top of the first. Brian Grove got things started for the Hornets with a walk. Mack Gowing reached first on a fielder's choice to get Grove out at second. Gowing stole second and scored on a single to left field from Mason Brown who advanced to second on the throw. Kaden Shaffer was walked before Trevor Turner singled to center field to advance Shaffer to second and score Brown to put the Hornets up 2-0.
 
After exchanging outs in the second inning the Gorillas tied the game with a two-run home run in the bottom of the third but the Hornets answered quickly. Emporia State got two runs in the top of the fourth on two hits and left the bases loaded. With one out, Tate Kastens walked and was out at second as Brandon Bachar reached on a fielder's choice. Grove hit a ground-rule double to right center field to advance Bachar to third before Gowing doubled to left center field to drive home the runners. Bryce Fischer walked and runners advanced on a wild pitch before Brown walked and Shaffer struck out to end the inning at 4-2.
 
The Hornets extended their lead in the top of the fifth with four runs on three hits and left three runners on for the second inning in a row. With one out on the board Kyle Lopez hit a single to second base and advanced to second on a single from Bachar. Grove was hit by a pitch to load the bases for the Hornets before Gowing got an RBI walk to bring Lopez home to score. Fischer hit a single to right field to advance Gowing to third and score Grove and Bachar to give the Hornets the 7-2 lead. Shaffer was walked with the bases loaded to score Gowing the Hornets before Turner struck out to end the inning at 8-2.
 
After exchanging outs in the sixth inning the Hornets tacked on another run in the top of the seventh by taking advantage of two Gorillas errors. Grove reached and advanced to second on a throwing error by the shortstop. Gowing reached on an error by the second baseman and advanced to second as Grove made it home to score and give the Hornets the 9-2 lead.
 
The Gorillas closed the gap to 9-4 in the bottom of the eighth with two runs on two hits and left the bases loaded but the Hornets answered with two runs of their own in the top of the ninth. Gowing walked to start the inning for the Hornets and advanced to second on a single from Fischer. Runners advanced when Brown grounded out to the pitcher. Shaffer was intentionally walked before Turner popped up an infield fly for the second out of the inning. Lopez reached on a throwing error by the short stop that allowed Gowing and Fischer to come home to score. The Gorillas got one run in the bottom of the ninth to end scoring at 11-5 and advance the Hornets to the championship game.
 
The Hornets had 11 hits in the game led by Mack Gowing with two hits, three runs and three RBI. Bryce Fischer and Mason Brown each added two hits while Brian Grove, Trevor Turner, Kyle Lopez, Tate Kastens and Brandon Bachar each added one.
 
Nathan Gieber started on the mound for the Hornets and pitched 3.0 innings allowing two runs on four hits with one K before being replaced by Seth Holman. Holman got the win for the Hornets pitching 3.0 innings allowing just one hit with two K's before being replaced by Jacob Tetuan. Tetuan pitched 1.2 innings allowing two runs on one hit with two errors and one K. Trey Taylor pitched the final out in the eighth inning before Taylor Thompson finished the final inning for the Hornets allowing one run on two hits.
 
Emporia State vs. Central Missouri
In a game that saw just 12 hits, the Hornets fell 2-1 to the Mules in the MIAA Championship.
 
After exchanging outs in each of the first five innings the Hornets got on the board first with one run in the top of the sixth. Bryce Fischer walked and advanced to third on a failed pickoff attempt. After Mason Brown popped up to second, Fischer scored on a wild pitch to give the Hornets the 1-0 lead.
 
The Mules tied the game in the bottom of the seventh with one run on one hit in the inning. After exchanging outs in the eighth the Mules had a runner on second with no outs when catcher Zach Whalin hit an RBI single up the middle to take the 2-1 win over the Hornets.
 
The Hornets combined for six hits in the game led by Kaden Shaffer with two. Brian Grove, Bryce Fischer, Trevor Turner and Kyle Lopez each added one.
 
Adam Thies started on the mound for the Hornets and pitched 6.0 innings allowing one run on four hits before being replaced by Max Simpson in the seventh inning. Simpson pitched 1.2 innings allowing just one hit with one K. Trey Taylor replaced Simpson for the last out in the eighth inning before allowing one run on one hit and one error in the bottom of the ninth.
 
The Hornets await their fate on the upcoming regional tournament held May 17-20. The selection show to announce the teams chosen for the NCAA Division II Central Regional Tournament will be held May 13 at 9:00 p.m.