EMPORIA STATE BASEBALL TAKES 2-1 SERIES WIN WITH DOUBLE HEADER SPLIT ON MONDAY

March 11, 2019- Emporia State Baseball split the double header against Fort Hays State on Monday to wrap up a 2-1 series win at Trusler Sports Complex. The Hornets fell 10-5 in game one before taking game two 12-4 over the Tigers.
 
Game One
After a scoreless, six batter first inning, the Hornets got on the board first as Aaron Dees led off the second inning with a solo home run over the left center field fence. In the bottom of the second, the Tigers took the 2-1 lead with two runs on three hits.
 
The Hornets answered quickly with two runs on three hits of their own in the top of the third. With two outs on the board, Brian Grove singled down the left line and scored on a double from Paul Claassen. Claassen scored on a single from Cooper Minnick to give the Hornets the 3-2 lead before the final out.
 
The Tigers regained the lead with two runs in the bottom of the fourth before a six hit, five run, bottom of the fifth extended their lead to 9-3 and put the game out of reach for the Hornets.
 
Alex Pener gave the Hornets another run in the top of the sixth with a solo home run out of left center field to cut the Tigers lead to 9-4.
 
In the bottom of the eighth inning, the Tigers capped their scoring with one run on three hits to take a 10-4 lead over the Hornets. The Hornets cut the Tigers lead to 10-5 with one run in the top of the ninth but could not overcome the deficit as they fell in game one.
 
The Hornets had nine hits in the game led by Alex Pener with three hits and two runs including one home run. Paul Claassen added two hits and one run for the Hornets.
 
Ryan Lee started on the mound for the Hornets and pitched 4.2 innings allowing six hits and eight runs (two earned) with seven K's. Trey Taylor faced three batters allowing three hits and one run before Dale Miller pitched the final 3.1 innings. Miller allowed one run on four hits with two K's.
 
Game Two
The Tigers got on the board first with one run in the bottom of the first inning and extended their lead with one run on three hits in the bottom of the second.
 
The Hornets took the lead with five runs on four hits in the top of the fourth inning. Connor Hurst got things started for the Hornets with a solo home run to left center field. Tyrus Barclay walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch, then to third on an error by the catcher. Christian Roduner walked and scored on a throwing error that allowed Josh Norlin to reach first. Runners advanced on a wild pitch and Brian Grove walked to load the bases. Roduner scored on a single from Paul Claassen before Norlin scored on a line out from Cooper Minnick for a sac fly. Alex Pener capped scoring for the Hornets in the inning with a double to right center that scored Grove and gave the Hornets a 5-2 lead.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, the Tigers cut into the Hornets lead with two runs on one hit and two Hornet errors.
 
After a scoreless fifth inning, the Hornets notched another five-run inning in the top of the sixth. Norlin led off the inning with a single up the middle and advanced to third on a double from Grove. With two outs on the board, Pener walked to load the bases and Norlin scored on a throwing error by the catcher. Aaron Dees walked to load the bases for again before Hurst hit a grand slam shot out of left center field to give the Hornets a 10-4 lead.
 
The Hornets wrapped up scoring in the top of the ninth with two runs on three hits. Tyrus Barclay gave the Hornets another solo home run to start the inning. Grove doubled to right center field with two outs and would score the final run of the game on a single from Claassen to give the Hornets the 12-4 win.
 
The Hornets recorded 13 hits in the game with 11 rbi. Connor Hurst led the team with three hits and two runs including two home runs and five rbi. Brian Grove scored three runs with two hits for the Hornets.
 
Hayden Schaeffer started on the mound for the Hornets pitching 2.1 innings allowing two runs on three hits with one K. Adam Thies pitched 1.0 inning allowing two runs on two hits with two K's and getting the win. Drew Scrimsher pitched 3.2 innings with seven K's before Sloan Baker came in to pitch the eighth inning recording one K against four batters faced. Connor Burns pitched the final inning for the Hornets with two K's.
 
The Hornets will be back in action on Friday, March 15 as they travel to Edmond, Okla. to take on Central Oklahoma. First pitch of the series is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.