HORNETS FALL IN FIRST GAME OF SERIES AT NORTHEASTERN STATE

April 26, 2019-Emporia State matched their season high with four errors in a 10-2 loss to Northeastern State on Friday afternoon in Tahlequah, Okla.
 
The Hornets got runners on second and third with one out in the top of the first thanks to a single by Cooper Minnick, a walk by Aaron Dees and a balk.  Connor Hurst hit a grounder to third and the RiverHawks were able to get Minnick out at home trying to score.  Paul Claassen was then called out for batter's interference to end the inning.  The RiverHawks then got to Emporia State starter Tanner Cairns for two runs in the bottom of the first on four straight singles. Minnick got the Hornets on the board with a one out solo home run in the top of the third to cut the lead in half. 
 
Northeastern extended their lead in the bottom of the fourth thanks in part to two Hornet errors and a wild pitch. Then in the bottom of the fifth the Hornets committed two more errors as the RiverHawks went up 9-1 after five.
 
Brian Grove led off the sixth with a single and with two outs went to second on Hurst's single to left. Claassen followed with a single to plate Grove before Lou Pener walked to load the bases.  Jonathan Smithey then got Tyrus Barclay to strike out to end the inning.  The RiverHawks got the run back in the bottom of the inning on back to back doubles to go up 10-2.
 
 With one out in the eighth Hurst and Claassen both walked before Pener reached on an error to load the bases again. John Rains struck out pinch hitter Tucker Perkins and then got a fly ball out from Tanner Arst to leave the bases loaded for the second time in three innings.
 
Cairns went 4.0+ innings and allowed eight runs, four of them earned, on ten hits as he lost for just the fifth time in 42 career starts. 
 
First pitch for game two of the series has been moved up to 12:00 p.m. due to the forecast of late afternoon rains in Tahlequah, Okla. on Saturday.