HORNETS FALL 4-2 TO #11 AUGUSTANA IN NCAA REGIONAL

May 18, 2018-Emporia State got another stellar performance from MIAA Pitcher of the Year Seth Holman, but had three errors that led to two unearned runs in a 4-2 loss to #11 Augustana in the second round of the NCAA Division II Central Regional Baseball Tournament in Magnolia, Ark. on Friday.
 
Holman was perfect through three innings and had a 1-0 lead thanks to back to back singles by Mason Brown and Kaden Shaffer in the second inning.  The Vikings tied the game in the top of the fourth on three straight one out singles.  Michael Svozil singled and stole second to start the rally and came home on Jordan Barth's single through the left side to make it 1-1, but a 4-6-3 double play ended the rally.
 
Augustana took the lead in the fifth inning when Lucas Wylie worked a lead off walk.  Lucas Barry then hit a ground ball to first but Hornet shortstop Brandon Bachar could not field the throw from Shaffer to put two runners on base.  After a sac bunt moved the runners 90 feet JT Mix got an RBI ground out to give the Vikings a 2-1 lead.
 
The Vikings had three runners reach base in the top of the sixth but the Hornets were able to keep them from scoring.  Svozil led off with a bunt single but Brown threw him out trying to steal, it was just the second caught stealing in 38 attempts for Svozil.  Sam Baier then drew a walk and went to second on Barth's infield single.  Ryan Nickel lifted a fly ball to center and Trevor Turner was able to double off Baier before he could get back to second to end the inning.
 
Derek Dahlke relieved Augustana starter Jacob Blank to start the sixth inning. Bryce Fischer hit a one out double to the base of the wall in center field. Brown followed with an RBI single to center but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double for the second out of the inning.
 
Max Simpson relieved Holman to start the top of the ninth and gave up a lead off double to Baier before striking out Barth.  Nathan Gieber took over for Simpson and walked the first batter he faced while Baier stole third on ball four. Wylie then laid down a squeeze bunt that scored Baier and Gieber's throw to the plate got away from Brown, allowing Nickel to go to third.  Barry then hit a sac fly to give Augustana an insurance run.
 
Zach Reeg, who entered the game with one out in the eighth and a 0.00 ERA, retired the Hornets in order in the bottom of the ninth to end the game.
 
Holman tied the Emporia State single season record with his 17^th start of the season and went 8.0 innings. He allowed two runs, only one of which was earned, on five hits with two walks and five strikeouts. Simpson took the loss, allowing one run on one hit. Brown was two for four with a run and an RBI while Shaffer went two for four with an RBI. Fischer was one for three with a double, a walk and a run scored.
 
The Hornets will face Central Oklahoma on Saturday morning in an elimination game.  First pitch is set for 11:00 a.m. from Walker Stadium at Goodheart Field in Magnolia, Ark.  The winner will advance to play again on Sunday at 12 noon in another elimination game.
 
NOTES
Holman tied Gabe Medina's school record for single season starts with 17. Medina set the record in 2006.
Holman passed John Campbell for third on the Emporia State single season strikeout list and Phil McKenzie for third on the single season innings pitched chart. He now has 122 strike outs in 117.0 innings.  Campbell had 120 strike outs in 1970 while McKinzie threw 116.2 innings in 1986.