Emporia State’s Eric Shortell had waited on Rockhurst’s Dan Fitzgerald long enough.
The Hornets’ cleanup hitter called timeout — a request the umpire didn’t grant.
“I think that helped me,” Shortell said, “because I slowed myself down.”
After stepping back and almost leaving the batter’s box, Shortell recovered and stepped straight into an outside fastball, driving the ball off the scoreboard in right field for a two-run home run in ESU’s 16-5 victory over Rockhurst on Monday.
Perhaps the assist should have gone to the umpire.
“I told him thanks when I got to home plate,” Shortell said with a smile.
On a cold and blustery day at Trusler, ESU prevailed by once again showing its offensive might.
The Hornets pounded 16 runs on 13 hits, putting up at least two runs in five different innings.
“We put together some good swings on some balls,” ESU coach Bob Fornelli said, “and found a way to score some runs.”
Leading 2-1, ESU broke the game open with a six-run fourth.
The key hit that inning came from Richie Stewart, who came through with the bases loaded.
The junior hit a deep shot to center — one that danced around and was knocked down by the gusting north wind.
“I thought it may get out straightaway center, and it ended up in right-center,” Stewart said. “That ball had to move 50 or 60 feet.”
Rockhurst centerfielder Zach Troilo couldn’t get to it on a sprint, as the ball fell in the right-center gap for a bases-clearing double.
Meanwhile, ESU also received a good starting performance from Tyler Applehans.
The left-handed junior pitched 5 1/3 no-hit innings before a Troilo single in the sixth.
Applehans still picked up the win, allowing three earned runs in 5 2/3 innings.
Daniel Waggoner pitched the final 3 1/3 innings for his first save of the season.
The victory was marred by a freak injury to leadoff hitter Conner Crumbliss that could keep him out an extended length of time.
During the seventh inning, the ESU second baseman went back to the clubhouse to wash his hands. As Crumbliss leaned down, the sink collapsed off the wall, and the junior gashed his hand in the process.
“The loss of Conner is going to hurt us,” Fornelli said. “We’re just going to have to play that by ear. Somebody else is going to have to step up.”
Brian Majors led ESU, going 4-for-6 with three runs and two RBI. Shortell added two hits and five RBI.
ESU (3-1) will go on the road today for a 3 p.m. matchup against Wichita State.
The Shockers are ranked No. 10 in the ESPN/USA Today preseason Division-I baseball poll.
“We’ve got nothing to lose,” Stewart said, “so we might as well go down there and stick it to them.”
“The worst thing it could do,” Shortell added, “is make us better.”
ESU 16, Rockhurst 5
Monday at Trusler
Rockhurst 000 103 001 — 5 5 6
No. 14 ESU 200 612 23X — 16 13 2
W — Applehans. L — Morgan. Sv — Waggoner.
E — Rockhurst: Baker, Fujarski, Rzepka, Coquillard, Chandler, Morgan; ESU: Crumbliss, Dreiling. DP — ESU 2. LOB — Rockhurst 4, ESU 11. 2B — Rockhurst: Braun; ESU: Crumbliss, Majors, Shortell, Stewart, Marasco. HR — Rockhurst: Coquillard; ESU: Shortell. HBP — ESU: Crumbliss, Wolfe, Marasco, Dreiling 2. SH — Rockhurst: Troilo. SF — ESU: Shortell 2, Dobler. SB — ESU: Hernandez, Williamson, Carlson 2, Dreiling. CS — Marasco.