The Emporia State men’s baseball team, ranked #30, dominated Lincoln last Sunday, 19-7, at Trusler Complex. This is ESU’s second straight win in two weeks.

The Blue Tigers started the game with a run in the top of the first. ESU scored at the bottom of the second inning, tying the score 1-1.

With no runs in the third, Lincoln scored two runs during the top of the fourth, taking a 3-1 lead.

“The first three innings we were stuck in a stalemate at the plate, and we got away from our approach that worked in the first two games,” said Ryan McBroom, junior infielder. “Coach pulled us aside before that inning, saying we had to get back to a line drive mentality, and right away we saw results. Once we had a couple hits, it just became contagious throughout the entire lineup.”

The Hornets, during the bottom of the fourth, scored 16 runs off of 14 hits. Five different Hornets had home runs during the bottom of the fourth, beginning with Ryan McBroom’s grand slam.

“A grand slam is a big momentum changer, and I think it gave us a boost since it broke the tie of the game,” McBroom said. “However, I would not have had the opportunity if the guys before me weren’t on base, so credit goes to the guys who got on base before me, but I will say a grand slam sure feels good.”

Evan Khoehler, senior infielder, hit two home runs, a solo home run and a two-run home run. Levi Ashmore, junior infielder; Derek Francis, senior infielder, and BJ Dean, junior outfielder, each had a two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth.

“Our order is just always capable of having break through innings like the fourth,” Ashmore said. “We just got in good counts and hit good pitches and put some great swings on balls.”

McBroom had another home run in the bottom of the sixth, making two points for the day. He batted 100 percent, hitting four for four on the day, with six runs batted in and three runs scored.

Koehler went three for four with three RBIs and three runs scored. Dean hit two for four with three RBIs and two runs scored. Dalton Wheat, sophomore outfielder, went three for four with three runs scored and Jordan Plank, junior pitcher, received a win for the day, improving 3-0 on the season.

Plank had eight strikeouts and no walks in four innings.

“I just do my job to the best of my ability and give my team a chance to win,” Plank said. “These past two weekends we have been pretty solid all around, and this group can’t wait to leave it out on the field every game we play and that has led to a lot of early success for us.”

The Hornets’ next game is  5 p.m. March 11 at Missouri Southern.