It was a cold night for a bath, but Bob Fornelli enjoyed it all the same.
The Emporia State coach was doused by a cooler filled with ice water after his team’s 13-11 and 8-5 victories over Pittsburg State on Tuesday at Trusler.
The celebration came because Fornelli — in his 12th year as a college head coach — picked up career win No. 500.
“It’s a tribute to the kids we’ve had,” said Fornelli, who was still dripping from his surprise shower. “When you have good kids doing the right things, that’s what enables you to win.”
The sixth-ranked Hornets ran their team-record winning streak to 21 games, though once again nothing came easily.
ESU was its own biggest enemy in Game One, committing seven errors in the seven-inning affair. Some of the miscues were as simple as dropping popups in the outfield.
Fornelli later called it the longest game he’d ever coached.
“For a while, we were the Bad News Bears,” Fornelli said. “Still, the guys found a way to get it done.”
The Hornets made up for most of their deficiencies with a ton of offense.
Brian Majors and Keith Hernandez added home runs in a five-run first inning, while ESU also posted five hits in a seven-run third.
Kevin Wempe and Conner Crumbliss both contributed two-RBI hits, as the Hornets took a 12-6 lead.
“Seven errors is not good,” Crumbliss said, “but it makes a big difference if you can keep hitting and find a way to get through it.”
Brock Nehls was able to dodge a rally in the seventh to secure the win.
Leading 13-10, the right-hander allowed four hits and a run before getting Austin Kirkwood to ground out with the bases loaded and two outs.
Hernandez, Wempe and Kellen Lane all had three-hit performances.
ESU was helped by its running game, as the team stole 10 bases without getting caught. Crumbliss and Majors had three steals each, while Hernandez and Wempe both added two.
In the second game, the Hornets came from behind to take a victory over Darrel Dinger, who came in statistically as one of PSU’s best pitchers with a 3.96 earned-run average.
After falling behind 5-0, ESU scored a run in the third then four in the fourth to tie it at 5.
Crumbliss followed with the decisive blow to start off the fifth.
The leadoff hitter blasted a first-pitch fastball from Dinger, knocking it well over the wall in right for a solo home run — his first of the season.
Dinger was pulled from the game after that pitch.
ESU later added a pair of insurance runs, and reliever Aaron Burris made the lead stand.
The senior was nearly perfect in his 3 1/3 innings of work, allowing no runs and just one hit while striking out three. He picked up his third save of the season.
Caleb Williamson went 2-for-3 with three RBI, while Crumbliss added two hits and two runs scored.
With a single in the seventh, Majors extended his hitting streak to 22 games.
Diego Soto picked up his first win, allowing three earned runs in 5 2/3 innings.
ESU (28-3, 14-0 MIAA) will look to keep its win streak intact during a four-game series this weekend against Fort Hays State.
The first game is set for 7 p.m. Friday at Trusler.
“We want to keep this thing rolling,” Hernandez said. “I think we have a lot of momentum on our side.”
Tuesday at Trusler
Game One
Emporia State 13, Pittsburg State 11
Pittsburg St. 150 310 1 — 11 13 5
No. 6 ESU 507 010 X — 13 14 7
W — Reese. L — Bartling. Sv — Nehls.
E — PSU: House 2, Maxwell 2, Thayer; ESU: Shortell 2, Lane, Marasco, Wempe, Anderson 2. LOB — PSU 9, ESU 6. 2B — PSU: Dean, Hothan; ESU: Shortell. HR — ESU: Majors, Hernandez. HBP — PSU: House, Dean; ESU: Marasco. SF — Shortell. SB — ESU: Crumbliss 3, Majors 3, Hernandez 2, Wempe 2.
Game Two
Emporia State 8, Pittsburg State 5
Pittsburg St. 311 000 000 — 5 9 2
No. 6 ESU 001 411 10X — 8 9 3
W — Soto. L — Dinger. Sv — Burris.
E — PSU: House, Sibala; ESU: Williamson, Anderson 2. DP — PSU 1, ESU 1. LOB — PSU 7, ESU 3. 2B — PSU: Loyd; ESU: Wempe. 3B — ESU: Crumbliss. HR — PSU: Kirkwood; ESU: Crumbliss. HBP — ESU: Shortell, Stewart. SF — ESU: Williamson. SB — PSU: House 2; ESU: Shortell, Hernandez. CS — ESU: Hernandez. Att — 157.