Senior infielder Anthony Dreiling dives back to first base Wednesday night at Glennen Field. The Hornets beat the Bethany Swedes 12-9 and will face Missouri Western at St. Joseph, Mo./PHOTO BY KELLEN JENKINS

The Emporia State baseball team beat Bethany College 12-9 at home last night.

The Hornets have led the series with the Swedes 20-0. The last meeting resulted in a double header sweep by the Hornets.

The Hornets had an 8-0 lead heading into the fourth inning. Bethany College answered with two three-run homers, along with one more run, cutting the Hornets’ lead to one.

The Hornets brought out freshman pitcher Justin Maxson to finish the top of the fourth.

“Coming out of the bullpen, it is kind of hard when the other team is making a run,” Maxson said.  “(We) just got to try to shut them down and do everything we can to stop that momentum.”

Sophomore left outfielder Anthony Markowitz contributed a two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth. “He got an opportunity and took advantage of it,” said Head Coach Bob Fornelli.

The homerun swung the momentum back the Hornets’ way.

“Markowitz’s two run homer was a big help,” Maxson said. “It gave me a lot of confidence to go back out there.”

The following three innings, the Swedes went three and out.

“(We) just got back in the grove,” said senior left fielder Conner Crumbliss. “(We) just kind of got our focus back on the field.”

The Hornets never looked back, matching the two runs by Bethany College to maintain a three point lead. Markowitz said batting was the key point to winning the game.

“I thought we hit the ball pretty well,” Markowitz said.

According to Fornelli, being able to adjust has been a work in progress for the team.

“In the first six innings we scored,” Fornelli said. “We have talked about (it) all year long; finding ways to score.”

Fornelli said the Hornets’ win was a team effort.

“No one had a great night, but everyone found a way to contribute,” he said.

With only four home games left, the Hornets do not seem too worried about playing on the road.

“We have done a pretty good job on the road,” Fornelli said. “We have got some pretty tough tests ahead.”

With more than half their season out of the way, the Hornets have a shot at regional competition.

The Hornets will play at Missouri Western in their next game at 6 p.m. this Friday, April 3.

Matthew Pierce/The Bulletin

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