EMPORIA STATE GETS SERIES SWEEP WITH 10-3 WIN AT SOUTHWEST BAPTIST

March 24, 2019-The Hornets took advantage of a season high three home runs and capitalized on three Bearcat errors in a 10-3 win at Southwest Baptist on Sunday to sweep the three game series.
 
For the second straight game the Bearcats got on the board first.  Caleb Sneed led off with a single and would score on a Noah Tucker single to make it 1-0.  The Honrets avoided any further damage in the inning when Hunter Hisky, who had walked before Tucker's single, was thrown out at the plate to end the inning during an attempted double steal. Two innings later Hisky would give Southwest Baptist a 3-0 lead with a two run homer in the bottom of the third.
 
The Hornets answered in the top of the fourth thanks to a pair of SBU errors, two walks and two hits.  Paul Claassen led off the inning with a single, went to second on a ground out and stole third during an Aaron Dees at bat that resulted in a walk.  Claassen would score when Tanner Arst reached on a two out error by the SBU third baseman to score Emporia State's first run.  Tyrus Barclay then delivered a two RBI double to right center that tied the game at 3-3.  In the bottom of the inning, SBU loaded the bases with one out and the top of the order due up when Dale Miller came on in relief of starter Ryan Lee.  Sneed hit into a line drive double play to end the inning.
 
Emporia State took the lead for good in the top of the fifth.  For the second straight inning Claassen led off with a single to get the Hornets started.  Connor Hurst followed him with a single to put runners on first and second.  Lou Pener was called upon to lay down a sac bunt but the SBU third baseman threw the ball away allowing Claassen to score.  Dees followed with a sac fly that drove in Hurst before Barclay got an RBI single that plated Pener and gave the Hornets a 6-3 lead.
 
After giving up a lead off double to start the bottom of the fifth, Miller retired nine of the next ten Bearcat batters before giving way to Drew Repp in the eighth.  Repp retired the side in order as Emporia State took a 6-3 lead into the ninth inning. The Hornets broke out the big bats in the top of the ninth, getting home runs from Brian Grove, Hurst and Dees to take a 10-2 lead.  Mason LeClair pitched the ninth, and after giving up a single and a walk, got strikeout to end the game and give the Hornets the series sweep.
 
Claassen went three for five with three runs scored in front of Hurst who was two for five with two RBI and two runs scored.  Barclay was three for four with two RBI while Dees wnet one for three with two runs and two RBI.  Miller got the win in relief, pitching 3.2 scoreless innings and allowing just two hits.
 
Emporia State is back in action on Tuesday when they travel to Wichita for a doubleheader against Newman.  First pitch of game one is set for 2:00 p.m.