It’s going to be a difficult task for any team to beat Emporia State if Conner Crumbliss keeps hitting like this.
The ESU center fielder led off both games against Pittsburg State with home runs on Wednesday, helping the No. 4 Hornets to 17-5 and 12-2 victories in Pittsburg.
That didn’t even tell the whole story about Crumbliss’ success in the first inning.
After starting Game One with a home run, Crumbliss batted again later in the inning and blasted a three-run homer to center field.
In three first-inning at-bats on Wednesday, Crumbliss was 3-for-3 with three home runs and five RBI.
The senior had just five home runs entering Wednesday’s doubleheader.
“It was a great start for us, and a tremendous day for Conner,” ESU coach Bob Fornelli said. “Even when he just finds a way to first base to start the game, we still feel like it’s 1-0.”
ESU extended its MIAA-record winning streak to 31 games, and again the offense was on display in the two run-rule victories.
The Hornets rocked Game One starter Anthony Martinez for nine earned runs in 2/3 of an inning.
Kevin Wempe and Andy Anderson added home runs, with Anderson contributing three hits and seven RBI.
Brock Nehls picked up the win, allowing two runs in five innings while striking out four.
ESU took control in the second game with a five-run fourth inning, adding one in the fifth and three in the sixth to enforce the run rule.
Keith Hernandez, Nick Carlson and Crumbliss had home runs. Hernandez went 3-for-4 with four RBI, while Anthony Dreiling also had three hits.
Diego Soto improved to 4-0, taking the win after allowing two runs in six innings.
“We pitched really well,” Fornelli said. “Brock did well, and it was good to see Diego have his best outing of the year. He’s been pitching better as it’s warmed up, and hopefully we’ll continue to see that.”
ESU (38-3, 24-0 MIAA) will begin a four-game home series against Northwest Missouri State at 7 p.m. Friday.
Wednesday at Pittsburg
Game One
Emporia State 17, Pittsburg State 5
No. 4 ESU 933 000 2 — 17 13 3
Pittsburg St. 002 000 3 — 5 5 0
W — Nehls. L — Martinez.
E — ESU: Morrison, Williamson 2. LOB — ESU 8, PSU 4. 2B — ESU: Hernandez, Anderson 2; PSU: House, Dean, Thayer. HR — ESU: Crumbliss 2, Wempe, Anderson; PSU: House. HBP — ESU: Shortell, Dreiling, Marasco; PSU: Martin. CS — House.
Game Two
Emporia State 12, Pittsburg State 2
No. 4 ESU 300 513 0 — 12 12 0
Pittsburg St. 101 000 0 — 2 3 1
W — Soto. L — Cooper.
E — PSU: Hothan. DP — ESU 1, PSU 1. LOB — ESU 7, PSU 1. 2B — ESU: Dreiling, Wempe. HR — ESU: Crumbliss, Hernandez, Carlson; PSU: Sibala. HBP — ESU: Shortell, Hernandez, Carlson. SF — PSU: Hothan. CS — ESU: Anderson.
Records — ESU 38-3, 24-0 MIAA; PSU 15-21, 10-14 MIAA.