March 19, 2019- Emporia State Baseball split the double header against Oklahoma Christian on Tuesday in Oklahoma City. The Hornets took game one 6-3 before falling 18-15 in game two.
The Hornets got started early in the first game of the day scoring four runs on four hits in the top of the first inning. Brian Grove, Paul Claassen and Cooper Minnick led the Hornets off with three straight singles to load the bases. Grove was out at home plate as Alex Pener reached first on a fielder's choice to keep the bases loaded. After Connor Hurst fouled out, Aaron Dees sent a grand slam shot over the center field fence to give the Hornets a 4-0 lead.
Hunter Markwardt led off for the Eagles with a triple to right center and would score on a ground out to end the inning with the Hornets leading 4-1. The Eagles closed the gap with a run from Garrett Wages in the bottom of the second and one from Errett Edwards in the bottom of the fourth to cap their scoring in the game.
After two scoreless innings, the Hornets wrapped up scoring in the game with two runs in the top of the seventh. Claassen led off with a double to left center and would score on a single from Pener. Hurst wrapped up the inning with a solo home run to give the Hornets the 6-3 win.
Aaron Dees led the Hornets with one run on three hits and had four rbi. Jarrett Seaton got the start and the win for the Hornets pitching 4.0 innings allowing three runs with two K's. Drew Repp got the three inning save allowing just one hit with one K.
It was a slow start for the Hornets in game two as the first six Emporia State batters were retired in order. The Eagles took a 9-0 lead after two as they scored nine runs on eight hits in the first two innings.
The Hornets got started in the top of the third with a two out rally. After a double play put the first two outs on the board, Josh Norlin reached on a fielding error by the short stop and would come around to score on a double from Brian Grove. Paul Claassen doubled to left center field to allow Grove home to score before coming home himself on a single from Aaron Dees for the Hornets to trail 9-3.
After retiring Eagles batters in order in the bottom of the third, the Hornets closed the gap with five runs on six hits in the top of the fourth. Connor Hurst led off the inning with a solo home run. Jack Duke walked and stole second before scoring on a single from Tyrus Barclay. Norlin, Grove, Classen and Dees would get four straight singles to advance runners around to bring the Hornets within 9-8 on the scoreboard.
Emporia State took the lead in the top of the sixth with five runs on three hits. Grove was hit by a pitch to start the inning and stole second before scoring on a single from Claassen. Claassen advanced to third on a double from Dees and bases were loaded with a Pener walk. Hurst got his second home run of the day with a grand slam that gave the Hornets a 13-9 lead after six innings.
Norlin singled to lead off the seventh inning and advanced to second on a passed ball before scoring on a fielder's choice that allowed Pener to reach first. In the bottom of the inning, the Eagles would get five runs on four hits and two Hornet errors to tie the game at 14-14 heading to the eighth.
The Hornets regained the lead in the top of the eighth as Arst got things started with a single to left center before scoring from second on a double from Grove to put the Hornets on top 15-14. The Eagles answered and capped scoring with four runs on four hits in the bottom of the inning to take the game 18-15 over the Hornets.
Brian Grove led the Hornets with three runs on three hits while Paul Claassen and Aaron Dees joined him with three hits each. Connor Hurst had two runs on two hits with five rbi. The Hornets had six pitchers in the game with Treston Rook getting his first start of the season. Adam Thies took the loss for the Hornets pitching the final 1.2 innings allowing four runs on five hits with three K's.
The Hornets are back in action on Friday, March 22 as they travel to Bolivar, Mo. to take on Southwest Baptist in a three game weekend series.
