March 8, 2020 – Emporia State pounded out 13 hits to take a 2-1 series win over Northwest Missouri with an 8-6 victory in game three on Sunday afternoon at the Trusler Sports Complex.
The Hornets jumped out to an early lead in the first inning.
Blake Carroll drew a leadoff walk followed by a
Cooper Minnick single. They both advanced to scoring position after a throwing error.
Sam Chaput reached on a throwing error by the shortstop which resulted in both Carroll and Minnick coming around to score.
After four scoreless innings on the hill for
Drew Repp, the Bearcats finally broke through in the top of the fifth on a two out solo homerun by Peter Carlson to cut the Hornet lead in half. In the bottom half of the inning Emporia State would answer back. With one out
Tyrus Barclay walked, Kade Graff singled to left and
Blake Carroll was hit by a pitch to load the bases. After a pitching change for the Bearcats, Minnick swung at the first pitch and drove in Barclay with a sacrifice fly to left field.
The sixth inning saw the Hornets extend the lead even further. With one out,
Josh Norlin doubled to right center and was followed by a single from Paul Claasen. After Claasen stole second,
Brady Michel drew a walk to load the bases. Two batters later, with two outs, Kade Graff hit a two RBI single to center field to score Norlin and Claasen to extend the lead to 5-1.
Trouble would strike the Hornets in the seventh inning. Trevor Dooley led off the inning with a pinch-hit single. After
Coleton Crisp got the next two batters out, Connor Quick singled up the middle and was then followed by Matt Gastner who a hit full-count three run homerun to narrow the lead to 5-4. The Hornets would go the bullpen, but the Bearcats would tie the game on a on pinch hit homerun from Tyler Peters.
The Hornets would respond with two in the bottom of the inning. Minnick would lead off with a single to right field and two batters later
Connor Hurst would hit a two-run homer to left center to make the game 7-5.
In the eight inning,
Tauren Langley got a check swing single with one out.
Brett Huelsmann would come into pinch-run and was advanced to third on a single by
Blake Carroll. After Minnick was hit by a pitch to load the bases and with two outs, Huelsmann would score on a wild pitch.
After a leadoff homerun in the ninth by Connor Quick, Emporia State went to the bullpen and brought
Jarrett Seaton in for Alex DeBey. Seaton would close the door to give the Hornets the 8-6 win over the Bearcats.
Alex Debey took the win for the Hornets after entering in relief to give him his second win of the season.
Drew Repp went 5.0 innings giving up just one run on four hits while striking out four.
Connor Hurst went two for five, including the go-ahead homer in the seventh inning, and two RBI.
Emporia State will be back in action on Friday, March 13 when they travel to Edmond, Okla. for a road series against Central Oklahoma. First pitch from Wendell Simmons Field is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
