The Emporia State baseball team finished the weekend 2-2 after splitting its second doubleheader with Fort Hays State on Monday. The Hornets won the first game, 6-4, before falling in Game Two, 6-4.
“A lot of people would be happy to split these,” Fornelli said, “but splitting this is putting us behind the eight-ball.”
Brock Nehls stepped up for ESU in Game One, picking up a complete-game victory while allowing just two earned runs.
The junior gave up six hits and struck out three to improve his record to 2-3.
“That’s a good sign for us,” Fornelli said. “Brock was supposed to be one of our guys all year, and he’s had a rough year. He was able to go out this weekend and have a good game, and hopefully he can put those together.”
Both Conner Crumbliss and Andy Anderson had a pair of hits in the victory.
In Game Two, ESU (17-14, 6-5 MIAA) mustered only nine hits in the nine-inning affair.
“We’re battling. We’re just not getting it done in big situations,” Fornelli said. “Offensively, we really thought that would be our strength, and right now we’re not swinging the bats very well.”
The Hornets have some injury problems in the middle of their order, as both Matt Marasco and Nick Carlson missed action.
Keith Hernandez also has been unable to catch because of an injury.
“We’re banged up a little bit,” Fornelli said, “and we’ve got to find a way to fight through it.”
Chris Evans went 3-for-4 to pace the ESU offense, while Brian Majors and Bill Sharp both added a pair of hits.
Kellen Mitts took the loss, allowing four earned runs in 2 1/3 innings.
One bright spot for the Hornets was reliever Aaron Burris. Entering in the third, he pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings to end the game.
FHSU improved its record to 18-11, 6-6 in the MIAA.
The Hornets will have one day off before traveling to Pittsburg State for a nine-inning game at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
Monday at Hays
Game One
ESU 6, FHSU 4
Emporia State 401 000 1 — 6 11 2
Fort Hays State 010 000 3 — 4 6 0
W — Nehls. L — Goodwin.
E — ESU: Barger 2. DP — Fort Hays St 1. LOB — Emporia St. 9; Fort Hays St 8. 2B — ESU: McBratney; Marasco; Anderson. HBP — FHSU: Biggs; Bolton. SB — ESU: Crumbliss; Cook.
Game Two
FHSU 6, ESU 4
Emporia State 010 001 200 — 4 9 1
Fort Hays State 033 000 00X — 6 9 4
W — Nuss. L — Mitts. Sv — Simpson.
E — ESU: Majors; FHSU: Staten 2; Biggs; Pfeifer. DP — Fort Hays St 2. LOB — Emporia St. 10; Fort Hays St 8. 2B — ESU: Majors; FHSU: Nelson; Pfeifer; Beall. HR — FHSU: Konrade. HBP — ESU: Evans. SH — FHSU: Bolton. SB — ESU: McBratney; Majors. CS — ESU: Evans.