HORNET BASEBALL OPENS MIAA PLAY WITH GAME ONE WIN OVER CENTRAL MISSOURI

February 21, 2019- Emporia State Baseball opened MIAA conference play with a 10-7 win over Central Missouri in Warrensburg, Mo. on Thursday. The Hornets used five run bottom of the eighth with three home runs to take the win.
 
Emporia State was first on the board in the bottom of the second with two runs on one hit and one Mules error. With one out on the board, Alex Pener singled to center field and advanced to second when Connor Hurst walked. The bases were loaded after Aaron Dees was hit by a pitch. Pener scored as Christian Roduner reached first on a fielder's choice and Dees was out at second on the play. Hurst scored the Hornets second run on a throwing error by the second baseman going for the double play at the plate to give the Hornets a 2-0 lead heading to the third.
 
The Mules answered with two runs on three hits in the top of the third and would take the lead with three runs in the fourth. The Hornets trailed 5-2 heading into the fifth inning.
 
After stranding one runner in the top of the inning, the Hornets tied the game with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Dees hit a lead-off single through the right side and advanced to third on a double from Roduner. Josh Norlin walked to load the bases with no outs. Hornet runners advanced and Dees scored on a wild pitch to cut the Mules lead to 5-3. Brian Grove struck out swinging for the Hornets first out before Paul Claassen struck out but reached on a wild pitch that allowed runners to advance and brought Roduner in to score, cutting the lead to 5-4. Norlin scored to tie the game at 5-5 on an error by the first baseman before the final two outs.
 
In the top of the seventh, the Mules regained the lead with two runs on two hits including two triples. The Hornets ended the Mules half of the inning with two fly outs as they would trail 7-5 heading to the eighth.
 
Cooper Minnick led-off the bottom of the eighth with a single to center field and advanced to second as Mitch Sloan was hit by a pitch. Pener started the scoring action for the Hornets in the inning with a three run home run to give the Hornets the 8-7 lead. Hurst and Dees followed with a solo home run of their own for back-to-back-to-back home runs as the Hornets capped scoring in the game for the 10-7 win.
 
The Hornets had six players with at least one hit in the game led by Alex Pener, Aaron Dees and Brian Grove each with two. Pener added two runs and three rbi while Dees added two runs. Tanner Cairns started on the mound for the Hornets, pitching 7.0 innings before being relieved by Drew Scrimsher. Scrimsher finished the game and got the win with 2.0 innings pitched and three K's.
 
The Hornets are back in action on Friday as they wrap up the series with double header action against Central Missouri. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. at Crane Stadium in Warrensburg, Mo.