The Missouri Western baseball team gave up a four run third inning falling 7-3 in the series opener against the Emporia State Hornets on Friday night at the Trusler Sports Complex. The Griffons out hit the Hornets 13-9 with Trevor LaHonta and Cody Childs got collecting four. The Griffons fall to 8-9 overall and 5-6 in MIAA play.

The Hornets got single runs in the first and second before exploding for four runs in the third inning.  The Griffons cut the Hornet lead to 2-1 in the third getting three hits in the inning. Matt Russell, Childs and LaHonta all had hits in the innings.

In the Hornet third Zach Stucky had the big hit, an RBI double that made it 4-1 with one out.  The Griffons pulled within 6-2 in the top of the seventh when Russell singled and scored again but ESU’s see Aaron Gile blasted a solo homer run in the bottom of the 7th pushing the lead back to five.

The Griffons scored one run in the ninth but that would be it as they have now lost six of their last seven MIAA games. Grant Woods picked up the loss going six innings. He gave up seven hits and five earned runs with five earned run. He struggled with his control walking five and hitting two batters.

Price Jacobs went two for five with a run scored and an RBI while Gile was two for two with two walks, a triple, and a homer.  Todd Schultz was one for three with two RBI as the bottom four batters in the Hornet line up went a combined six for 15 with five RBI and four runs scored.

Jarred Miller scattered 11 hits over 7.0 innings to earn the win as he recorded four strikeouts and no walks. He is now 2-2 on the season.

The Hornets and Griffons will continue their four game series on Saturday with a double header beginning at 1:00 p.m.

— MWSU Sports Information —