EMPORIA STATE COMPLETES THE SWEEP OF MISSOURI SOUTHERN WITH 10-6 VICTORY

March 1, 2020-Emporia State spotted Missouri Southern the first five runs of the game before scoring the next ten runs in a 10-6 victory at Trusler to sweep the series from the Lions.
 
Jordan Fitzpatrick got the Lions on the board first with a solo home run in the second inning and then gave Missouri Southern a 5-0 lead with a grand slam in the third.  Jarrett Seaton relieved Hornet starter Drew Repp after the grand slam and got two strikeouts to end the inning.
 
Emporia State took advantage of two walks in the bottom of the fourth when Paul Claassen singled in Connor Hurst and Tyrus Barclay delivered a two run double to center field to make it 5-3.  Jack Maki then plated Barclay to pull the Hornets within a run.
 
The Lions replaced starter Will Bausinger with Logan VanWey to start the bottom of the seventh. He promptly walked the first two batters he faced and gave up a sac bunt to put runners at second and third. Cooper Minnick delivered an RBI single through the right side to tie the game.  Josh Norlin hit a ground ball to short but the Lions could not turn the double play and Maki scored the go ahead run.  Hurst was then hit by a pitch and two wild pitches later Norlin scored to give the Hornets a 7-5 lead.
 
Seaton tossed a shutdown inning in the top of the eighth with two strikeouts.  In the bottom of the inning Claassen greeted Southern reliever Corey Cowan with a lead off single and went to second when Brady Michel walked.  Ryan Krowlikowski laid down a sac bunt to advance the runners and Maki lofted sac fly to left to give Emporia State an 8-5 lead.  Kade Graff would score from second on a failed pick off attempt by Cowan and Blake Carroll would follow with a double inside the bag at first to chase Cowan.  After a walk to Minnick reliever River Wright gave up a single to Norlin that plated Carroll and gave the Hornets a 10-5 advantage.
 
Alex Debey started the ninth on the mound for the Hornets and gave up a lead off homer to Matt Miller.  Dexter Swims then singled but the Hornets were able to turn a 6-4-3 double play to erase the runner.
 
Jack Maki was two for two with two RBI and a run scored while Paul Claassen went two for three with two runs scored and an RBI.  Mason LeClair got the win in relief, tossing two no hit innings with three strikeouts.
 
Emporia State will return to action on Friday, March 6 when they play host to Northwest Missouri.  First pitch of the three game series is currently set for 3:00 p.m. at the Trusler Sports Complex.