The streak goes on: ESU wins 25th straight after sweep of Hays
By Jesse Newell
Originally published 01:42 p.m., April 7, 2008
Updated 01:42 p.m., April 7, 2008
Eric Shortell was hit by a pitch in the first inning of Sunday’s game against Fort Hays State on Sunday.
Problem was, the umpire didn’t see it.
“It barely nicked me,” Shortell said. “I kind of looked back and was about to go (to first).”
Then, Shortell said he had a different thought: “I’ve got a ball on me. I might as well just hit.”
That turned out to be a good Plan B.
After getting denied first base, Shortell touched all the bases two pitches later, launching a home run over the wall in left field.
His blast set the tone for Emporia State, which took a 13-3 run-rule victory over FHSU in the series finale.
“Every time he comes up, you know something special might happen,” ESU second baseman Anthony Dreiling said. “You never know how far he’s going to hit the ball.”
The Hornets’ win streak has now gone from unbelievable to nearly unprecedented. The Hornets have won 25 consecutive games and are two away from the MIAA record of 27 straight wins set by Central Missouri.
“I’ve never had a team do any of this stuff,” ESU coach Bob Fornelli said. “We’ve won 13 or 14 in a row and done some of that — and we’ve won a lot of games during that time — but to do what they’re doing now is pretty amazing.”
Though ESU’s offense has been spectacular all year, it was even more impressive during the weekend.
The Hornets had 14 home runs in the four-game series, scoring a combined 65 runs in those games.
“We didn’t try to do too much,” Fornelli said. “We did hit a lot of home runs, but it wasn’t because we were swinging for them. We just had good swings on the ball and squared a lot of balls up this weekend.”
ESU (32-3, 18-0 MIAA) once again benefited from grabbing an early lead.
After Shortell’s homer made it 2-0, Dreiling did his own damage two batters later.
The junior jumped ahead in the count 2-0, then waited as FHSU’s Kevin Large received a visit from his pitching coach.
“I figured he’s kind of struggling, so he’s going to throw a fastball,” Dreiling said. “I just tried to do what I could with it.”
Dreiling ended up knocking a deep drive over the wall in center, extending the Hornets’ lead to 4-0.
ESU starter Richard Timbrook battled through a few rough spots in the early innings to take the complete-game victory.
He allowed three runs and nine hits in seven innings, striking out 10 while walking three.
The right-hander threw 135 pitches.
“He’s probably one of our best in-shape guys,” Fornelli said. “We felt like he could continue to do what he was doing. It was a good performance for him.”
Shortell led ESU’s bats, going 3-for-4 with four RBI. Dreiling added three hits and three RBI, while Conner Crumbliss went 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
After starting the game 0-for-3, Brian Majors extended his hitting streak to 26 games with a single in the fifth inning. He finished 2-for-5 with two runs scored.
ESU travels to play at Pittsburg State on Tuesday.
Sunday at Trusler
ESU 13, Fort Hays State 3
Fort Hays State 020 100 0 — 3 9 2
No. 6 ESU 405 020 2 — 13 13 2
Note: None out, 1 runner LOB when the game ended.
W — Timbrook. L — Large.
E — FHSU: Becker, Large; ESU: Timbrook 2. DP — FHSU 1, ESU 1. LOB — FHSU 9, ESU 8. 2B — FHSU: Biggs, Burditt; ESU: Majors, Shortell 2, Dreiling, Anderson. HR — FHSU: Burditt; ESU: Shortell, Dreiling. HBP — ESU: Shortell, Hernandez, Wempe, Williamson, Anderson. SF — ESU: Crumbliss. SB — FHSU: Biggs. CS — ESU: Williamson.
Saturday at Trusler
Game One
ESU 23, Fort Hays State 8
Fort Hays State 011 006 0 — 8 10 4
No. 6 ESU 529 115 X — 23 16 2
W — Nehls. L — Moore.
E — FHSU: Biggs, Robbins, Gaudet, Macaitis; ESU: Majors, Morrison. LOB — FHSU 6, ESU 5. 2B — FHSU: Majercik, Robbins, Groff; ESU: Majors, Wempe, Williamson. HR — FHSU: Stacken; ESU: Crumbliss, Majors, Shortell, Hernandez, Anderson. HBP — FHSU: Stacken; ESU: Hernandez, Steinbach, Lane, Wempe, Carlson. SB — FHSU: Biggs; ESU: Williamson.
Game Two
ESU 15, Fort Hays State 5
Fort Hays State 230 000 0 — 5 11 4
No. 6 ESU 361 032 X — 15 18 2
W — Anthony. L — Gilliland.
E — FHSU: Robbins 2, Brown, Gaudet; ESU: Majors, Williamson. DP — FHSU 1, ESU 1. LOB
— FHSU 7, ESU 6. 2B — ESU: Crumbliss 2, Hernandez. HR — FHSU: Biggs, Becker, Washburn; ESU: Crumbliss, Hernandez 2, Wolfe. HBP — ESU: Crumbliss. SF — FHSU: Washburn; ESU: Shortell. SB — FHSU: Robbins.