Chris Evans will be the first to admit he doesn’t have it all figured out quite yet.
“I’m still learning how to play first base a little bit,” the Emporia State senior said. “I’ve got some big shoes to fill.”
With regular starter Matt Marasco out with a hamstring injury, Evans provided the offensive punch in his place Saturday, going 3-for-6 with three runs scored in ESU’s 8-1 and 9-3 victories over Missouri Southern.
The Hornets swept the four-game series on Sunday, taking 7-6 and 5-3 wins.
Evans had only played first base once in his life — during last fall for one game — before Marasco’s injury forced a change at the position.
ESU coach Bob Fornelli had Evans take grounders at practice before inserting him in the lineup.
“I’m pretty comfortable at the plate as it is,” Evans said, “so now I just have to get comfortable at first.”
The senior was especially effective offensively in the second game, going 2-for-3 with a double, two walks and a run scored.
His effort was part of a 10-hit attack for ESU, which scored four runs in the third and five in the fourth to grab a 9-2 lead.
“It hadn’t been a lot of fun for awhile,” Evans said. “(Saturday) was pretty fun.”
Brock Nehls took the win for the Hornets, going five innings while allowing 10 hits and two runs.
The junior was in damage-control mode most of the game, as he escaped bases-loaded jams in the first, fourth and fifth innings.
“I struggled a little bit, but I battled, though,” Nehls said. “I didn’t have my best stuff (Saturday), but I was just trying to get a win.”
Trent Lare provided ESU a quality start in Game One on Saturday, pitching a complete game while allowing just one run over seven innings. The senior struck out five and walked just two while working quickly on the mound.
“It kind of gets to the hitters a little bit,” Lare said. “I was just trying to work on top, work ahead.”
Both starting pitchers were the beneficiaries of good defense behind them.
ESU committed no errors on Saturday — quite a feat considering the cold temperature, and the whipping north wind.
“It was a tough day to play the game of baseball,” Fornelli said. “I thought both teams competed well.”
The Hornets ran their winning streak to five games with a pair of walkoff victories on Sunday.
ESU won the first contest in extra innings after entering the bottom of the ninth tied at 6.
With the bases loaded and two outs, Brian Majors executed a drag bunt for a single and the game-winning RBI, driving in Evans.
The second game was even more dramatic, as ESU trailed 3-2 heading into its final at-bat.
With two outs, Evans singled and Mark McBratney walked to put two runners on.
Keith Hernandez did the rest, knocking a 2-2 pitch over the center-field fence for a walkoff three-run home run.
Evans led the Hornet offense again on Sunday, going 4-for-7 with three runs scored.
ESU (22-14, 11-5 MIAA) will play host to Pittsburg State at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Sunday at Emporia
Game One
Mo. Southern 210 200 100 — 6 14 2
Emporia State 300 030 001 — 7 10 2
Note: 2 outs, 3 runners LOB when the game ended.
W — Waggoner. L — Knight.
E — MS: Heuther; Vestal; ESU: Evans; Anderson. DP — Lions 2. LOB — Lions 12; Hornets 10. 2B — MS: Lawver 2; Wheeler 2; ESU: Sharp. 3B — ESU: McBratney. SH — ESU: Evans; Barger. SF — ESU: Hernandez. SB — ESU: Evans; Sharp.
Game Two
Mo. Southern 000 300 0 — 3 7 2
Emporia State 010 010 3 — 5 8 1
Note: 2 outs, 0 runners LOB when the game ended.
W — Meisenheimer. L — Lawver.
E — MS: Wheeler; Adams; ESU: Anderson. DP — Lions 1; Hornets 1. LOB — Lions 6; Hornets 6. 2B — MS: Velliquette. HR — ESU: Hernandez. HBP — MS: Velliquette; Wheeler. SB — ESU: Crumbliss.
Saturday at Emporia
Game One
Mo. Southern 000 100 0 — 1 6 2
Emporia State 500 300 X — 8 9 0
W — Lare. L — Meyer.
E — MS: Wheeler 2. DP — Lions 1; Hornets 2. LOB — Lions 5; Hornets 9. 2B — ESU: Hernandez; Wolfe. HBP — ESU: Hernandez; Barger. SB — ESU: Crumbliss. CS — ESU: Anderson.
Game Two
Mo. Southern 100 100 010 — 3 16 4
Emporia State 004 500 00X — 9 10 0
W — Nehls. L — Roberson. Sv — Burris.
E — MS: Klassen; Cupp; Knight; Jenkins. DP — Lions 1. LOB — Lions 16; Hornets 13. 2B — ESU: Evans. 3B — ESU: McBratney. HBP — Hernandez. SH — MS: Jenkins; ESU: McBratney. SB — ESU: Crumbliss; McBratney 2; Anderson.