February 15, 2020-The Hornets got another solid start from
Jake Barton in the opener and then came from behind late in the nightcap as they swept Metro State in a double header on Saturday in Denver, Colo. Emporia State won the matinee 5-2 and took the second game 9-6.
Game One
Jake Barton had his longest outing of the season and has yet to give up an earned run on the season as he tossed 7.0 shutout innings in the opener.
Josh Norlin drove in
Cooper Minnick in the top of the first to get things started for Emporia State. In the second
Jack Maki grounded into a double play that plated
Brady Michel to give the Hornets a 2-0 lead.
Sam Chaput made it 3-0 with an RBI single in the fifth and
Connor Hurst put Emporia State up 4-0 with an RBI double in the seventh.
Paul Claassen added an insurance run with an RBI single in the top of the ninth.
That was more than enough support for Barton, who scattered seven hits over 7.0 innings with 11 strikeouts and four walks.
Mason LeClair worked the final 2.0 innings and gave up a two run home run to Chase Anderson in the ninth before getting two ground outs to end the game.
Game Two
Emporia State trailed 6-1 after three innings before rallying for a 9-6 victory in the seven inning nightcap.
The Hornets opened the scoring with an RBI single by
Sam Chaput in the top of the second but the Roadrunners took their first lead of the day with two runs in the bottom of the inning.
Chase Anderson and Zach Walsh each hit two run homers in the bottom of the third to give Metro State a 6-1 lead. After givingup two doubles and two homers along with a walk,
Jared Kengott was relieved by
Hayden Schaeffer who got three outs to end the inning.
Emporia State responded with a six run fourth inning to retake the lead.
Brady Michel started the scoring with a one out homer to left center.
Blake Carroll got an RBI single with the bases loaded to make it 6-3 and chase Roadrunner starter Austin Stone.
Cooper Minnick greeted reliever Javi Vega with a two run double to pull the Hornets within a run and
Josh Norlin gave ESU the lead with a two run double of his own. Schaeffer came out and tossed a shutdown inning in the bottom of the fourth, getting a strikeout and two ground outs.
The Hornets added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the sixth when Norlin singled in Carrol and Chaput hit a sac fly to plate Minnick and give Emporia State a 9-6 lead.
Coleton Crisp started the bottom of the sixth on the mound for ESU and after a lead off double struck out the next three batters. He got two more strikeouts in the bottom of the seventh to pick up his first save of the season.
Josh Norlin was two for four with three RBI while
Cooper Minnick went two for three with two runs and two RBI. Schaeffer did not give up a hit 3.0 innings to pick up his first save and Crisp struck out five in 2.0 innings while allowing one hit to get the save.
The two teams will wrap up their series on Sunday with another double header. First pitch is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. (Mountain Time) at the Regency Athletic Complex in Denver, Colo.
NOTES
Jake Barton has opened the season without allowing an earned run in 17.0 innings with 29 strikeouts.
