Hornets make statement at Central Missouri
Stephen Coleman, Special to The Gazette
Monday, March 23, 2009
WARRENSBURG, MO. — It was a historic weekend in Warrensburg, Mo., and for all the right reasons for the Emporia State baseball team. The Hornets beat the Central Missouri Mules 7-5 on Sunday, winning the regular season series against them for the first time since joining the MIAA in 1992.
After losing their Friday game, the Hornets responded by sweeping their Saturday doubleheader, taking Game One 2-1 behind the near-shutout pitching of Ryan Anthony. Game Two was much more dramatic, as ESU scored four runs in extra innings to not only beat the Mules, but their top pitcher, Chris Matlock, who had a MIAA-record 40 2/3 scoreless-inning streak broken.
“We knew if we were going to win that game we had to score a run, because it was tied,” ESU coach Bob Fornelli said. “Here’s a guy (Matlock) who’s done a great job and he’s thrown a lot of zeros against us in the last couple of years. We were fortunate enough to make an adjustment and get some crucial hits and find a way to win that game.”
ESU’s effort also carried on into Sunday’s game, as it struck early with a first inning run when Conner Crumbliss scored on a double by Kenny Burkhead. Central Missouri tied it at one in the third inning before Emporia State distanced itself with a five-run fifth. Crumbliss again played a key role in the scoring, with a two-run triple in the inning.
“He’s the best there is,” ESU third baseman Kevin Wempe said. “We’ve got one great leadoff guy and he makes us go offensively.”
The outburst gave ESU starter Tyler Appelhans a large lead and, in spite of a UCM ninth-inning rally, one the Hornets would not relinquish.
Appelhans was also enthused with his teammates’ performance the day before.
“(Winning Saturday) was huge,” Appelhans said. “We took two games, (Ryan Anthony) threw well. We did a good job. If we woudn’t have taken those, there would have been a lot more pressure on this game.”
Appelhans pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing only three hits and one unearned run before being taken out after being struck on the forearm with a line drive. He and ESU starter Ben Graham both were removed for injury concerns over the weekend, but neither appeared to be seriously hurt.
After Friday’s frustrating game, the Hornets’ doubleheader sweep seemed to relieve their sense of doom when playing the Mules.
“Before, I hate to say it, we were scared to play here,” Crumbliss said. “After we get that under our belt it feels a lot easier to come into here and play against these guys. The last few years they’ve had us. We might have been a better team, but they played better when it mattered. So it feels good to come out of here on top. It’s no secret, I mean, we’re a good team. There’s no way we should come out and play timid like that, so we just had to loosen up a little bit.”
With the successful road series, the Hornets improved to 22-5 overall, with a 12-2 record in the MIAA.
In the eyes of Fornelli, though, the Hornet wins did more than just beef up the conference standings.
“We executed a lot better,” Fornelli said. “For the most part I thought we did all the little things right. We got some bunts down in crucial situations and our guys Conner Crumbliss and Kenny Burkhead stepped up and delivered big hits for us. It gives us confidence and puts a little doubt in their mind and we were able to walk out of here with three wins.”
It was a moral victory for sure, but Fornelli isn’t throwing a victory parade quite yet.
“That’s big for the conference, big for our confidence,” he said. “But again, there’s five weeks left in the season and we’ve got to continue to play.”
Sunday at Warrensburg, Mo.
Emporia State 7, Central Missouri 5
Emporia State 100 050 001 — 7 12 3
Central Missouri 001 000 004 — 5 7 0
E — ESU: Burkhead 2; White. DP — ESU 1. LOB — ESU 5, UCM 7. 2B — ESU: Crumbliss 2, Francis, Burkhead. 3B — ESU: Crumbliss. HBP — ESU: Wempe; UCM: Tuttle, Calhoun. SH — UCM: Cole. SB — ESU: Francis; UCM: Bradbury. CS — ESU: Wempe.