EMPORIA, Kan. - No. 6/17 Emporia State exploded for eight runs in the sixth inning to pull away for a 17-6 win over Metropolitan State University of Denver on Friday in Emporia, Kansas. The Roadrunners dropped to 2-2 this season, while it was the season-opener for ESU.
Alex Walker (Wheat Ridge, Colo./Wheat Ridge H.S.) hit two home runs for the Roadrunners as they connected for four as a team.
Marcus Bean (Fort Collins, Colo./Rocky Mountain H.S.) got MSU Denver on the board in the top of the second inning, homering off the top of the fence in left field to tie the score at 1-1.
Walker's first long ball of the game came in the top of the third, cutting the deficit to 3-2.
Trent Maloney (Castle Rock, Colo./Douglas County H.S.) led off the fourth with a double and scored on a sacrifice fly by
Jake Thurston (Centennial, Colo./Grandview H.S.) as the Roadrunners trailed 4-3.
Walker hit a two-run homer in the seventh and freshman pinch hitter
Nick Juhl (Temecula, Calif./Temecula Valley H.S.) hit a home run in his first career plate appearance to lead off the eighth.
Nick Hammett (Broomfield, Colo./Broomfield H.S.) suffered the loss, striking out five in four innings.
Cameron Stroup (Arvada, Colo./Arvada West H.S.) pitched two scoreless innings of relief.
The two teams will meet again on Saturday at 1 p.m. (CT).
