Hornets power to 31st straight

Chris Hunter / The Bulletin

Senior first baseman Matt Marasco receives congratulations from a teammate after he scores a run in a recent game. ESU will host Northwest Missouri for a four-game series over the weekend.

The fourth ranked Emporia State baseball team swept Pittsburg State in a double header 17-5, 12-2 last night to extend its winning streak to 31 games. ESU hit six homeruns in the ball games to go with 12 strikeouts from the Hornet pitching staff.

In game one junior center fielder Conner Crumbliss led off the game with a homerun to centerfield to put the Hornets up 1-0 immediately. ESU then scored eight more runs in the first inning with the help of base on balls and key hits with runners in scoring position. Senior shortstop Andy Anderson doubled to drive in two runs in the inning and Crumbliss hit another homerun in the inning, this one a three run shot.

The Hornets racked together the nine runs on five hits, but left three runners on base. The hot scoring continued as ESU put up three runs in the second and third innings while only allowed PSU to get two runs in the third inning to the Hornets' 15 runs through three innings.

After three scoreless innings from both clubs, ESU scored two more runs in the seventh inning to take a 17-2 lead heading into the last half inning of the scheduled seven inning game. PSU tried to make a comeback by putting up three runs in the bottom of the inning, but it wasn't enough as ESU took game one by a score of 17-5.

Senior Brock Nehls took the mound for ESU in game one and had a strong outing as he pitched fived innings while only allowing two runs on three hits. Nehls also struck out four in the game. The win gave Nehls his eighth win of the season.

Anderson led the way for the Hornets with seven RBI on three for five hitting and two runs scored. Crumbliss had four RBI on two for six hitting with two runs scored as freshman third baseman Kevin Wempe went one for two with three runs scored and three RBI.

Game two was much of the same as Crumbliss led off the game with a homerun for the second straight game. Wempe then added a two run single to give ESU a 3-0 lead to start the game.

Head coach Bob Fornelli liked that the Hornets were able to get early leads in both games and thought the team played well all-around.

"First game they helped us, they walked a bunch of guys, hit some of us and we came up with some timely hitting," Fornelli said. "In the second game, Conner leads off with a homerun and Kevin Wempe came up with a big two out single. We got off to a good start and I thought we pitched really well tonight."

Junior Diego Soto got the start for the Hornets and gave up very little to the Gorillas. Soto gave up one run to PSU in the first inning and one in the third, but pitched zeroes for four of the innings in his six inning outing.

Fornelli was really pleased with the pitching from both Nehls and Soto.

"They both pitched really well," Fornelli said. "I think that's the best Soto has thrown since he's been here and hopefully can continue to get better throughout the year."

The fourth inning was big as ESU put up five runs in the inning with the help of four run homerun by senior designated hitter Keith Hernandez to boost the Hornets to an 8-2 lead. ESU then added one run in the fifth and three in the sixth inning to take the end lead of 12-2. The Hornets had 12 runs on 12 hits in the game.

Soto picked up his fourth win of the year and struck out five as he gave up three hits and only two runs.

Hernandez's four RBI led the way for ESU as he went three for four with three runs scored in the game. Senior first baseman Nick Carlson added three RBI on one for two hitting with two runs scored and Wempe chipped in two RBI on two for three hitting and one run scored.

Fornelli was pleased with how Crumbliss was able to help ESU early.

"He got both games started in the right way and gave us a 1-0 lead after the first batter and that's always good," Fornelli said.