#18 Emporia State 4 Wayne State 2
NCAA Division II 18th-ranked Emporia State avenged an earlier loss to Wayne State with a 4-2 win over the Wildcats Tuesday afternoon in non-conference college baseball played at Glennen Field in Emporia, Kansas. WSC beat the then 9th-ranked Hornets in Emporia two weeks ago today 7-3. Emporia State is now 12-6 with the win while the Wildcats fall to 4-10.
Emporia State opened the scoring with two runs in the bottom of the second inning to grab the early lead, but WSC came back to even the score at 2-2 with a pair of runs in the fourth inning. Justin Beranek walked, Nick Bidroski singled and both player scored on John Plasha's double down the left field line. However, the host Hornets retaliated with single runs in the fifth and seventh innings using two hits in each inning followed by a sacrifice fly and sacrifice bunt respectively to score runs as the Hornets held WSC scoreless the rest of the way in a 4-2 win.
The Hornets had nine hits in the game to six for the Wildcats. Nick Bidroski finished 2 for 4 with a run scored while Brandon Polk was 2 for 3 with a pair of singles. Plasha doubled and Jake Ritzdorf singled to round out Wayne State's six hits in the game. Senior left hander Josh Voth (1-3) suffered the pitching loss, allowing nine hits and four runs over 6 1/3 innings with five strikeouts. Reliever Tadd Johansen worked the final 1 2/3 innings without allowing a hit while notching one strikeout.
For Emporia State, Travis Whipple and Kenny Burkhead each went 2 for 4 with a double and single. Starting pitcher Matt Robertson (3-1) earned the win, giving up two earned runs over six innings on five hits with three strikeouts and one walk. Colby Killian earned the save by pitching one hit ball over the final three innings with two strikeouts.
Wayne State is scheduled to open Northern Sun Conference play this weekend at Bemidji State with doubleheaders scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at noon each day.
