Baseball | 2/21/2012 5:22:00 PM
LET’S GET IT STARTED
The Hornets will look to open the season 4-0 for the second straight season when they face Rockhurst at home. ESU hit .346 as team during the season opening weekend with 12 extra base hits.
LAST AT BAT
#8 ESU stole six bases needed only three extra base hits in a 12-3 win over Nebraska-Kearney. The Hornets swept the three game series with the Lopers to open the season. Ashton McCoy had a strong day at the plate going two for five with five runs driven in and socring a run of his own. Joe Vaskas finished two for four on the day with two runs batted in and two runs scored. Beau Poston went three for four on the afternoon and added two runs scored and an RBI. Keith Picht came on in relief to pick up his first win.
THE COACHES
Bob Fornelli is 353-131 in his ninth season at ESU and is 659-244 in his 16th year overall. He has led ESU to eight straight NCAA South Central Regionals. He led ESU to MIAA Championships in 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2011. A 1991 graduate of ESU, Fornelli has taken teams to the NCAA Tournament 12 times, and was the national runner-up in 2009 with ESU and in 2000 while at FHSU.
Gary Burns is 570-393 in his 18th season with the Hawks.
THE SERIES
This will be the 68th meeting between the two teams with ESU holding a 37-30 overall advantage. The Hornets have won nine of the last ten meetings.
LAST TIME VS. RU
The Hornets took advantage of four Hawk errors as they pulled out a 7-2 victory on the road at Rockhurst. Jeremy Francis was three for four and scored two runs adding one run batted in. Cole Moore pitched six innings striking out four to pick up his second victory of the season.
SCOUTING THE HAWKS
Rockhurst went 23-26 and finished 17-14 in the GLVC last season. They are led by Ryan Porter who hit .390 last season with six home runs and 29 runs driven in. Patrick Chandler hit .376 with four home runs and 26 runs batted in. On the mound Mark Sappinger is the Hawks top returning pitcher going 6-4 with a 3.51 earns run average and 67 strikeouts.
ON DECK
The Hornets will open up MIAA play on March 2 when they travel to Southwest Baptist for a pair of double headers. First pitch on March 2 is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. while the game on March 3 is scheduled for 12 noon from Bolivar, Mo.
