EMPORIA STATE OPENS SERIES WITH 9-3 WIN OVER PITTSBURG STATE

April 12, 2019-Emporia State used a six run eighth inning to take a 9-3 win over Pittsburg State to open their three game series.
 
Aaron Dees got the scoring started with a lead off home run to straight away center field in the second inning.  Cooper Minnick and Tyrus Barclay followed with walks and advanced a base on Lou Pener's sac bunt.  Mitch Sloan made it 2-0 with a sac fly that plated Minnick.
 
The Gorillas tied the game in the top of the third. Clint Allen led off the inning with a home run.  Tanner Cairns retired the next two batters before giving up a walk to Tyson Cushman and back to back singles to Alex Achtermann and John Oliver to tie the game.
 
A throwing error by Josh Norlin allowed Quin Reasoner to get to second base to start the Gorilla half of the third inning.  He would score on a ground out by Blain Ohlmeier to give Pitt State a 3-2 lead.
 
The Hornets tied it in the bottom of the sixth. Dees worked a one out walk and went to second on Minnick's sac bunt. Barclay then singled through the left side to make it 3-3 headed to the seventh inning.
 
Emporia State sent ten men to the plate in the eighth inning as they put the game away with six runs on just three singles with three walks and a hit batter.  Connor Hurst started the inning with a walk and went to second on Aaron Dees infield single.  After a sac bunt advanced the runners, Pitt State made the first of three pitching changes in the inning. Barclay singled in Hurst to give the Hornets the lead. Dees would score on a passed ball and Pener would deliver an RBI single to make it 6-3.  Sloan and Norlin walked and Grove was hit by a pitch to load the bases and drive in Pener. Paul Claassen ended the scoring with a sac fly that plated Norlin and gave Emporia State a 9-3 lead.
 
Drew Repp relieved Cairns to start the ninth inning after Cairns went 8.0 innings, allowing three runs, two of them earned, on six hits with seven strikeout and just two walks.  Repp sandwiched two walks between three ground ball outs to end the game.
 
Barclay was three for three with two RBI while Dees went two for two with three runs scored and an RBI.
 
Game two of the series is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Saturday at Glennen Field in the Trusler Sports Complex.