The Emporia State baseball team’s offense exploded on the Hornets’ way to a doubleheader sweep on Friday at Southwest Baptist.
The 18th-ranked Hornets scored 26 runs and had 28 hits over the two games, beating SBU 14-13 in Game One and taking the second game 12-2.
In the first game, ESU scored seven runs over the first two innings, then held on as Baptist scored all 13 of its runs in the fourth through sixth. Second baseman Marc Albers led the Hornet attack with three hits that included a pair of home runs — his third and fourth of the year — and four RBIs. Third baseman Calder Cody hit a homer and tripled, also driving in four runs. Outfielder Travis Whipple had three hits — including two doubles — and two RBIs, and David Albritton had two hits and three RBIs.
Emporia State led 13-2 through four-and-a-half innings before Baptist got five in the fifth and six in the sixth to make it interesting. After Hornets starter Colby Killian could only get one out in the fifth, ESU coach Bob Fornelli went to his bullpen for Casey Lippoldt. Lippoldt was charged with four earned runs but managed to get the final two outs of the fifth.
Kyle Rosine relieved Austin Anderson with two outs in the sixth, then preserved the win in the seventh despite hitting a batter and giving up a walk.
Killian got the win to improve his record to 3-2, striking out four and walking one over 4 1/3 innings.
Game Two was easier for the Hornets, who got seven runs in the first three innings. Zack Carlson and David Albritton each went deep twice; Albritton’s homers were his sixth and seventh on the year, and Carlson’s were his first two.
Albritton collected four RBIs; Carlson drove in two. Kenny Burkhead, Dobler and Cody each had a pair of hits for Emporia State, Cody drove in a pair of runs and Dobler walked twice. Albers had a hit and three walks.
Jake Hosey pitched the entire way on the mound for ESU, giving up six hits and a walkd and striking out six in seven innings. ESU had just one error in each game of the doubleheader.
Emporia State will be back in action on Tuesday, when it hosts Bethany at Trusler Sports Complex for one nine-inning game beginning at 6 p.m.
Friday at Southwest Baptist
Game One
ESU 520 241 0 — 14 13 1
SW Baptist 000 256 0 — 13 16 1
WP — Killian. LP — Berman.
E — ESU: Cotton; SBU: Barnhart. DP — ESU 1; SBU 1. LOB — ESU 3; SBU 5. 2B — ESU:
Whipple 2, Dobler, Cotton; SBU: Barnhart, Grubbs. 3B — ESU: Cody. HR — ESU: Cody, Albers 2; SBU: Grubbs. HBP — ESU: Cotton; SBU: Davis. SH — SBU: Tormanen. SF — ESU: Dobler. SB — ESU: Whipple 2, Albritton, Dobler, Cotton.
Game Two
ESU 511 004 1 — 12 15 1
SW Baptist 000 002 0 — 2 6 0
WP — Hosey. LP — Stenger.
E — ESU: Albers. DP — ESU 1; SBU 2. LOB — ESU 8; SBU 5. 2B — ESU: Burkhead 2; SBU: Tormanen. HR — ESU: Carlson 2, Albritton 2. HBP — ESU: Burkhead. SF — ESU: Knight 2. SB — ESU: Whipple, Burkhead, Dobler, Albers, Cotton.