Baseball | 2/29/2012 8:22:00 PM
LEAGUE ACTION
The Hornets open MIAA play with a trip to Southwest Baptist on March 2-3. The Hornets are 41-20 overall in MIAA opening series, but have won 12 straight and 16 of the last 18 in opening weekend series’.
LAST AT BAT
#7 ESU used 18 hits and a five run fifth inning to storm from behind for an 11-3 win on the road at Rockhurst. The Hornets had five extra base hits and stranded 12 Hawks on base. Dorain Williams went four for six on the afternoon adding two RBI and scoring following his fifth inning triple. Ashton McCoy was three for five as the top of the Hornets line-up went a combined 7 for 11 on the day. McCoy scored two runs and stole his team leading third base. Caleb Compton went two for five and scored two runs. Zack Carlson drove in three for ESU.
THE COACHES
Bob Fornelli is 354-132 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.
Chris Martin is 3-1-1 in his first season with the Bearcats.
THE SERIES
This will be the 56th meeting between the two teams with ESU holding a 47-8 overall advantage. The Hornets have won 10 straight and 18 of the last 20 over the Bearcats.
LAST TIME VS. SBU
ESU was outhit 11-8 in the ballgame but never trailed as they pulled out a 7-4 win over SBU on March 18, 2011 at Glennen Field. Kevin Wempe went one for one and homered driving in two in the ESU win. Drew Smith went five inning allowing only one unearned run to pick up his second win. Michael Cotter picked up his sixth saves of the season.
SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
Southwest Baptist is 3-1-1 on the season and playing in their first MIAA game. They are led at the plate by Spencer Blacksher who is hitting .571 with five runs driven in. Drew Miller is hitting .471 with three RBI on the year. On the mound Dustin Caplette is 1-0 with a 2.31 earned run average while Justin Pasichnyk is 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA.
ON DECK
The Hornets will have their first MIAA series at home when Northwest Missouri comes to town on March 9-11. First pitch is at 3 p.m. on March 9, 1 p.m. on March 10 and 12 noon March 11th.
