Streak snapped at UCM

Kellen Jenkins / The Bulletin

Freshman third baseman Kevin Wempe squares to bunt against Fort Hays last week. The Hornets lost three of four games to Central Missouri over the weekend. ESU will have its final regular season series this weekend against Washburn.

After winning 35 games in a row, the #2 Emporia State baseball team lost three games to Central Missouri this weekend. The Hornets dropped game one by a score of 3-5. In Saturday's double header the Mules had big innings as ESU lost 7-8 and 4-10. ESU was able to pick up a win in the series finale on Sunday by a score of 10-8.

In the first game of the series, UCM jumped out to an early 1-0 lead by scoring one run in the first inning. ESU was able to pick up a tying run in the sixth inning on a leadoff homerun by __ Nick Wolfe. UCM then responded by scoring another run in the seventh and three more in the eighth. ESU headed into the ninth inning down 1-5. Senior left fielder Brian Majors led off the inning with a double and was then hit in on a homerun by senior right fielder Eric Shortell. The two runs would be all the Hornets would get in the inning as ESU fell short and lost 3-5. It was the first loss for the Hornets since March 8.

Junior Tyler Applehans got the start for ESU and put in seven innings of work. Applehans struck out seven as he gave up only two runs on four hits. Senior Daniel Waggoner came in for relief work and gave up three runs on three hits. The loss is the first for Applehans this season and gives him a 9-1 record this season.

Shortell led the way for ESU with two RBI on one for four hitting as Majors went two for four with one run scored.

In game two, UCM once again got an early lead by scoring one run in the first inning. The Hornets responded by scoring three runs in the second inning with the help of a two run double by senior Nick Carlson. Junior Conner Crumbliss then added an RBI single to give ESU its third run of the inning.

Although the Hornets went into the bottom of the second up 3-1, the Mules scored six runs in the inning to take a 7-3 lead and then added another run in the third to put ESU down 3-8. The Hornets rallied to score three runs in the sixth inning with help from a pair of doubles but ultimately fell to UCM 7-8.

Senior starter Brock Nehls only got 1.2 innings of work in before being replaced. Nehls gave up seven runs on nine hits and struck out two. Senior Ty Reese came in for 3.1 innings of relief and struck out two while giving up one run on three hits. The loss puts Nehls at 8-2 on the year.

The second game of the double header saw the Hornets get two runs in the first inning to go up 2-0 on the Mules right away. ESU then added two more in the second as Shortell had a two run single. Almost as soon as the Hornets were able to have a 4-0 lead, UCM scored six runs in the second inning and two more in the third and the Hornets found themselves down 4-8. The Hornets would not score anymore runs and the Mules would add two more as ESU lost 4-10.

Junior Ryan Anthony only got 2.1 innings of work in as he gave up seven runs on seven hits and struck out three. Senior Aaron Burris would then come in on relief and put in 3.2 innings of work and struck out four as he gave up seven hits and three runs. ESU left 11 runners on base in the game.

Shortell had two RBI on one for one hitting as junior second baseman Anthony Dreiling went two for three with one RBI.

The Hornets quickly found themselves in a three game skid after winning 35 games straight. As the final game of the series got underway, Majors hit a triple in the first inning to score junior center fielder Conner Crumbliss. ESU then added two more runs in the inning. UCM responded by scoring two runs in the first inning. The game then became offensive orientated as senior catcher Keith Hernandez hit a two run homerun to give ESU a 5-2 lead.

The Mules notched five runs in the second inning to take the lead back and go up 7-5. The Hornets got one more run in the third, two in the fourth to take an 8-7 lead. UCM added one more run, but ESU got one run in the eighth and another in the ninth on a homerun from Hernandez.

Senior Richard Timbrook got the start for ESU and put in 4.1 innings of work as he gave up eight runs on nine hits. Reese was credited with the win as he pitched 4.2 innings of shutout baseball. The win is Reese's fourth of the year.

Hernandez led the way for the Hornets going three for six and having three RBI on the day. Dreiling added three RBI on two of five hitting as junior designated hitter Kellen Lane went three for five with one RBI and one run scored.

ESU is now 43-6 on the year and 29-3 in MIAA play. The Hornets sit atop the MIAA standings ahead of UCM by three games. The Hornets will play Washburn in the Turnpike Tussle this weekend before heading to Kansas City for the MIAA Tournament.