Hornets take final game of series against Mules, 10-8
By The Emporia Gazette (Contact)
Monday, April 28, 2008
After leaving Emporia on Friday with hopes of keeping a winning streak going, the Emporia State Hornets can thank Keith Hernandez and Ty Reese for making sure they didn’t return home with a losing streak instead.
Hernandez hit two home runs, and Reese threw 4 2/3 scoreless innings of relief as No. 2 ESU held on for a 10-8 victory over Central Missouri in the series finale on Sunday.
After winning 35 consecutive games heading into the weekend, ESU dropped its first three contests against UCM. That included 8-7 and 10-4 losses on Saturday.
The Hornets had to rally on Sunday to even come away with one victory.
After a five-run Central second inning, ESU responded with a run in the third and two more in the fourth to tie the score at 8.
ESU won it with its offensive production late.
An RBI single from Andy Anderson gave the Hornets a 9-8 lead in the eighth, and Hernandez added his second home run of the day in the ninth to make it 10-8.
Reese pitched around two singles in the bottom of the ninth to keep the Mules scoreless and improve his record to 4-0.
Hernandez was the offensive star, going 3-for-6 with a double, three RBI and three runs scored. Kellen Lane added three hits, while Conner Crumbliss and Eric Shortell scored two runs each.
Reese picked up the pieces after ESU starter Richard Timbrook went just 4 1/3 innings and allowed eight earned runs.
With their victory, the Hornets tied the MIAA record for most conference wins in a season (29).
ESU couldn’t come through during crucial at-bats in Game One on Saturday.
Trailing 8-7 in the top of the seventh, the Hornets had runners on second and third with one out after a double by Nick Carlson.
Central’s Chris Matlock halted the ESU rally, though, getting Anderson to strike out before Crumbliss hit a soft liner toward left.
UCM shortstop Brian McBride leapt high in the air and came down with the catch to end the game.
In the nightcap, UCM had six runs in the second to grab a 6-4 lead, then extended its advantage from there to take the runaway 10-4 win.
The Mules had 17 second-inning runs in the final three games of the series.
ESU (43-6, 29-3 MIAA) will face Washburn in a 5 p.m. home game on Friday.
Sunday at Warrensburg, Mo.
ESU 10, Central Missouri 8
No. 2 ESU 321 200 011 — 10 14 0
Central Missouri 250 010 000 — 8 13 2
W — Reese. L — Latimore.
E — UCM: Dykins, Curtis. DP — ESU 1. LOB — ESU 13, UCM 7. 2B — ESU: Hernandez, Lane; UCM: Rutledge, Hallam. 3B — ESU: Majors; UCM: McBryde. HR — ESU: Hernandez 2; UCM: Dykins, Perez. HBP — ESU: Carlson; UCM: Bergman. SH — ESU: Majors, Anderson; UCM: Perez. SF — ESU: Dreiling. SB — ESU: Majors, Shortell; UCM: McBryde, Bergman. CS — UCM: Brown.
Records — ESU 43-6, 29-3 MIAA; UCM 33-13, 21-7 MIAA.
Saturday at Warrensburg, Mo.
Game One
Central Missouri 8, Emporia State 7
No. 2 ESU 030 004 0 — 7 11 0
Central Missouri 161 000 X — 8 14 1
W — Carey. L — Nehls. Sv — Matlock.
E — UCM: McBryde. LOB — ESU 9, UCM 10. 2B — ESU: Crumbliss, Majors, Carlson 2; UCM: Feil, Bergman 2, Perez. HR — UCM: Feil, Dykins. HBP — UCM: Feil. SB — ESU: Majors, Shortell; UCM: Feil 2, Rutledge.
Game Two
Central Missouri 10, Emporia State 4
No. 2 ESU 220 000 0 — 4 7 0
Central Missouri 062 101 X — 10 14 3
W — Potje. L — Anthony.