February 21, 2020-Emporia State gave up ten runs in the fourth inning on the way to a 14-6 loss to open their series with #17 Augustana at the Trusler Sports Complex on Friday.
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Jake Barton gave up his first earned run of the year in the top of the first when the Hornets could not turn an ending inning double play. Emporia State answered with five runs in the bottom of the first.Â
Sam Chaput had a base loaded double with one out that scored two and
Paul Claassen came through with a bases loaded single with two outs to give the Hornets a 5-1 lead. Barton would then toss a shutdown top of the second, getting three strikeouts as he retired eight straight at one point.
Chaput gave the Hornets a 6-1 lead with a lead off homer in the bottom of the third but the Vikings erupted for ten runs in the top of the fourth to take control of the game. Eight of the first nine batters in the inning reached with a walk, three singles, a double, a triple and two home runs before Augie took a 7-6 lead with one out. At that point
Mason LeClair relieved Barton and got a ground ball that turned into two errors and two more runs scoring as the Vikings took a 9-6 lead. They would tack on two more before the inning ended to take an 11-6 lead into the bottom of the fourth.
Augie added two more in the top of the sixth and one more on Riley Johnson's second homer of the day in the seventh for the final score of 14-6.
Barton took the loss, allowing a season high nine runs, seven of them earned, on eight hits with five strikeouts. Chaput and Claassen both went two for three with three RBI for the Hornets.
The two teams are scheduled for a double header on Saturday weather permitting. First pitch has been moved up to 12 noon in attempt to avoid evening rain in the forecast. Â
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