February 3, 2024 – Emporia State records 15 hits and draws eight walks on their way to a 15-5 win against New Mexico Highlands to close out the Edmond First Pitch Classic.
Both the Hornets and Cowboys struggled offensively through the first three innings as both teams tallied just two hits in the first three frames.
Ian Lanik got the start on the mound for Emporia State and struck out five batters in his first three innings of the season.
In the fourth, NM Highlands used three extra-base hits to take a 2-0 lead over Emporia State.
The Hornets wasted little time responding, as back-to-back singles and a walk loaded the bases for
Logan Myers. Myers drew a walk to push across the first run for Emporia State. A pair of wild pitches later in the inning allowed two runs to score, giving the Hornets their first lead of the game, a 3-2 advantage.
Both teams were held scoreless in the fifth before the Cowboys struck again in the top of the sixth. Emporia State relief pitcher
Seth Stover quickly got the first two hitters out before NM Highlands put together three hits and a walk as the Cowboys regained a 5-3 lead over Emporia State.
Like the fourth inning, Emporia State quickly responded, scoring three runs on three hits in the bottom half of the sixth. Following a leadoff single from
Austin Hamm,
Logan Myers tripled into left field to score Hamm and trim the Cowboys' lead to 5
-4. Following the first out of the inning,
Drew Jennings pushed Myers across with a sacrifice fly before
Konner Hatfield recorded his first career home run to give the Hornets a 6
-5 lead.
Stover settled in on the mound for Emporia State, recording three strikeouts in the top of the seventh before the Hornets continued their offensive output into the bottom half of the inning.
RBI singles from
Austin Hamm and
Andrew Rantz pushed the lead to 8-5 before
Konner Hatfield added to his RBI total, driving in both Hamm and Rantz and extending the Hornet lead to 10-5 through seven innings.
In the eighth,
Tanner Dawe replaced
Seth Stover to make his first Emporia State appearance and allowed no runs on one hit in the top half.
Emporia State continued their offensive outpour in the eighth, scoring five runs on three hits and a pair of walks.
TJ Racherbaumer got the inning started with a solo home run, his second of the weekend.
Austin Hamm followed the home run with a hit-by-pitch before a walk by
Logan Myers and a bunt single from
Andrew Rantz loaded the bases.
Drew Jennings recorded his second RBI of the game with a walk before
Konner Hatfield capped off his day with a three RBI double to clinch the 15-5 run rule win for Emporia State over New Mexico Highlands.
Ian Lanik got a no-decision with 5.0 innings pitched and two runs allowed on six hits with six strikeouts.
Seth Stover got the win in relief with 2.0 innings pitched and four hits allowed with four strikeouts.
At the plate, five different Hornets recorded multiple hits, led by
Konner Hatfield who went 4-6 with a home run, double and six RBI.
Austin Hamm went 3-3 with an RBI, run scored, walk and a hit-by-pitch, reaching base in all five plate appearances.
TJ Racherbaumer went 3-5 with a home run and three runs scored while
Patryk Hernandez and
Andrew Rantz each had two hits of their own.
Emporia State will take on Colorado School of Mines on February 9-11 in their home opening series. Game one is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. on Friday, February 9 from Glennen Field.
