The Missouri Western baseball team picked up a big doubleheader sweep over the 22nd ranked Hornets of Emporia State on Tuesday afternoon in MIAA action. After giving up a four run lead in game one the Griffons were able to battle back for a 5-4 victory before earning a 6-2 victory in game two. The Griffons improve to 23-11 overall and 16-8 in MIAA action.
Game 1: MWSU 5, ESU 4 (8 innings)
In game one the Griffons pounded out 11 hits as they hung on to get a 5-4 victory in extra innings. Western scored two runs in the third when Nate Ramler blasted his sixth homer of the season.
Things looked good for Western as they scored two more in the sixth when Jimmy Smelcer doubled to left center scoring Grant Fink and Kyle Peterson hit a sacrafice fly scoring Ramler.
In the bottom of the seventh the Hornets came out swinging scoring four runs on six hits pushing the game to extra innings.
In the top of the eighth the Griffons got a single by Ramler and then Jack Bond pinch ran and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Shawn Egge singled down the right field line giving the Griffons the 5-4 lead.
Jake Jones gave up two hits in the eighth but was able to work through the hits getting his sixth save of the season.
Ramler had three hits scoring two runs and getting two RBI. Ethan Ward went 6.1 innings giving up six hits and four earned runs. Chris Allen picked up the win going 0.2 innings giving up two hits.
The Hornets had two 10 hits with Kornburst going 2-for-4. Picht picked up the loss for ESU going one inning giving up two hits and one earned run.
Game 2: MWSU 6, ESU 2
The Griffons got a strong pitching performance from Oliver Kady going five innings giving up just four hits and two runs while striking out two picking up his first victory of the season. Matt Bergin pitched well in releif going two innings with three strikeouts.
Western got on the board in the first inning when Grant Fink doubled and scored on a single to right field by Spencer Shockley.
The score remained 1-0 until the second inning when the Hornets scored two runs on two hits. Eric Dawson singled through the left side and Ashton McCoy followed that up with a hit by a pitch putting runners on first and second with no one out. Later on in the inning Dorrian Williams doubled to left center scoring both Dawson and McCoy giving the Hornets the 5-4 lead.
The Griffons answered right back in the third scoring two on two hits. Michaell Schulze singled and scored on a wild pitch while Bubba Dotson scored on a single by Spencer Shockley.
In the fourth the Griffons put the game out of reach when Shawn Egge blasted his first homer of the season giving Western the 6-2 lead.
That would be all the Griffons would need as the Hornets fall to 20-12 overall and 15-9 in MIAA action.
Spencer Shockley and Grant Fink both had two hits in the contest while Egge had three RBI.
The Hornets had five hits with five different players getting hits. Zach Gove picked up the loss going 3.1 innings giving up five hits and four earned runs.
The Griffons return to action on Saturday, April 14 when they play a doubleheader against the Pittsburg State Gorillas in Pittsburg, Kan. Game time is set for 2:00 pm.
— MWSU Sports Information —