The Emporia State baseball team snapped out of its offensive funk Wednesday night, exploding for 10 runs and 13 hits in a 10-6 victory over Pittsburg State in Pittsburg.
“We did some good things for five of the nine innings,” ESU coach Bob Fornelli said. “That’s a bright spot for us. Hopefully, we can carry that over into the weekend.”
ESU started its scoring in the second inning, using a two-out rally to plate three runs.
Keith Hernandez had the crucial hit — a two-RBI double to left — to help the Hornets to a 3-0 lead.
ESU scored in each of the final four innings, posting two runs in the seventh, eighth and ninth frames.
Ty Reese gave the Hornets solid relief, entering in the fourth for Grant Meisenheimer.
Reese pitched the final 5 2/3 innings, allowing just two runs and four hits to pick up his second win.
Brian Majors paced ESU from the second spot in the order, going 4-for-6. He also added four RBI and a run scored.
“He’s been great offensively for us,” Fornelli said, “and he’s a perfect two-hole hitter for us right now.”
Conner Crumbliss chipped in four walks and also four runs scored, while Nick Wolfe added his second home run of the season.
Matt Marasco, Bill Sharp and Hernandez all had two-hit games.
ESU (24-17, 13-8 MIAA) will take on No. 4 Central Missouri in a four-game series this weekend at Trusler.
“We’ve got nothing to lose,” Fornelli said. “We’ve got to go play and just stick our nose in there, have fun and play loose. If we do that, we’ll have a chance.”
Wednesday at Pittsburg
ESU 10, PSU 6
Emporia State 030 001 222 — 10 13 3
Pittsburg State 020 010 102 — 6 10 1
W — Reese. L — Wecker.
E — ESU: Crumbliss; McBratney; Barger; PSU: Franklin. DP — PSU 1. LOB — ESU 11; PSU 10. 2B — ESU: Majors; Hernandez. 3B — ESU: McBratney. HR — Wolfe; PSU: Deao. HBP — ESU: Hernandez 2; Barger 2; PSU: Schulte. SH — PSU: Boan; Campbell. SB — ESU: Crumbliss; Majors; Sharp; Barger 2; PSU: Naccarato.
3 ESU athletes named
MIAA players of week
Two Emporia State softball players and one Hornet track and field athlete earned MIAA player of the week honors, the conference announced Tuesday.
ESU’s Courtney Reed took pitcher of the week, Megan Davison was hitter of the week and Andy Vogelsberg was named men’s field athlete of the week.
Reed picked up a win and a save on April 12, helping ESU to a doubleheader sweep of Washburn.
In the Game One start, Reed pitched a complete-game shutout, allowing just one hit while striking out nine. She also came in for 2/3 of a scoreless inning in Game Two, notching the save in the Hornets’ 8-5 victory.
Davison accounted for five of the 10 runs in ESU’s sweep over Washburn. She ended the day 3-for-6 with two walks, three RBI and two runs scored. She also added a towering home run in the first game — one that cleared the fence easily and extended the Hornets’ lead to 2-0.
Vogelsberg automatically qualified for Nationals twice in the same week for the ESU track and field squad.
In April 9’s State Farm Relays, he won the event with a javelin throw of 228 feet, 4 inches. He improved that mark on Sunday, posting a mark of 231 feet, 4 inches to win the ESU/Papa John’s D-II Challenge.
Vogelsberg has the top javelin mark in Division II by more than 18 feet.