February 8, 2020-Emporia State fell in a pair of one run games at CSU-Pueblo on Saturday as they lost for the first time this year. The Hornets lost 3-2 in the first game and 6-5 in the bottom of the ninth in the second game.
GAME ONE
The Hornets pitching staff did not give up an earned run in a 3-2 loss to the Thunderwolves in the opener.
Emporia State got in front in the second inning when
Blake Carroll and
Cooper Minnick both walked in front of a two out, two run double by
Josh Norlin.
Jake Barton was perfect his first time through the CSU-P order, striking out the side in the second and getting K's on six of the first nine batters he faced. Easton Adler led off the bottom of the fourth by reaching on an error. Following a single by Billy Reyes he would score on a one out single by Aidan Welch. Barton got a ground out for what should have been the third out of the inning before Daniel Abiles singled through the right side to give the Pack a 3-2 lead.
The Hornets had a chance to tie in the top of the fifth but
Paul Claassen was thrown out trying to score from third on a fly ball to right field to end the inning. In the sixth, Carroll walked but was picked off at first before Minnick doubled. Minnick went to third on a balk but was stranded there.
Sam Chaput doubled with one out in the top of the seventh but became the 11
th Hornet left on base as the CSU-P picked up the 3-2 win.
Barton did not allow an earned run in 5.0 innings but did give up three unearned runs on four hits while striking out nine.
Mason LeClair worked a perfect sixth for the Hornets.
Josh Norlin was two for four with two RBI to provide the Hornets offense.
GAME TWO
The Hornets led 5-2 going to the bottom of the seventh in the nightcap but could not hold on as the Thunderwolves scored three in the bottom of the seventh and walked off in the bottom of the ninth for a 6-5 victory.
Two hit batters and a walk led to an RBI fielder's choice by
Connor Hurst in the top of the first as the Hornets got out in front. A single, walk and two errors gave the Thunderwolves a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first. Four walks by Brett Matthews resulted in an RBI walk by
Josh Norlin to tie the score and the Pack changing pitchers.
Brady Michel greeted reliever Johnathon Ramirez with an RBI single through the right side that plated Minnick and Carroll to give Emporia State a 4-2 lead.
The Hornets added a run in the top of the seventh when Hurst led off with a solo homer to right field. Emporia State loaded the bases on three straight walks but a strikeout, fielder's choice to home and a ground out kept them from scoring as they took a 5-2 lead into the bottom of the seventh of the scheduled seven inning game.
Coleton Crips started the ninth on the mound for Emporia State. An error, a single and a wild pitch put runners on second and third with nobody out for CSU-Peublo. Adler then singled up the middle to score two and pull the Pack with a run. After sac bunt Mike Gonzalez tied the score with an RBI singleto left. Crisp struck out the final two batters to send the game to extra innings.
Hayden Schaeffer relieved Crisp to start the ninth and gave up a walk and a bunt single. After a strikeout, Schaeffer got a ground ball to second but the Hornets could not turn the double play and CSU-P stayed alive. Cody Beck then snuck a single through the right side to give the Thunderwolves a 6-5 walk off win.
Schaeffer took the loss, allowing the one run on two hits in 0.2 innings.
Jared Kengott went 4.0 innings in the start, allowing two unearned runs on two hits with seven strikeouts and two walks. Hurst and Michel each went one for four with two RBI for the Hornets at the plate.
The Hornets and Thunderwolves will wrap up the series on Sunday with a single nine inning game scheduled for 12 noon (Mountain Time) in Pueblo, Colo.
