Baseball | 4/25/2012 5:34:00 PM
FINAL PUSH
The Hornets will play their six of their final eight game at home to close out the regular season. The Hornets are facing a ranked opponent for the first time this season.
LAST AT BAT
ESU racked up 18 hits and took advantage of six Jet errors as they run-ruled Newman on the road. The Hornets scored in every inning but one as they rolled to an 18-8 victory. At the plate Joe Vaskas continued his hot hitting going five for six with six runs driven in as he also added his ninth home run of the season. Joe Hosey hit his third home run in last the four game and added four runs driven in for the Hornets. Blake Brisson went two for four with two runs scored and four runs driven in.
Dorain Williams was two for four at the plate and scored a season high five runs while adding an RBI.
THE COACHES
Bob Fornelli is 375-148 in his ninth season at ESU and is 680-258 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.
Tom Myers is 227-60 in his fourth season with the Mules.
THE SERIES
This will be the 170-173rd meeting between the two team with UCM holding a 114-55 advantage. The Hornets and Mules have met 65 time over the last ten season’s averaging 6.5 meetings per season.
LAST TIME VS. UCM
The Hornets were held to nine hits and only one run as they fell to Central Missouri in the NCAA South Central Regional on May 2, 2011. Dillon Hazlett went two for four at the plate and drove in the Hornets lone run.
SCOUTING THE MULES
Central Missouri is 35-7 and 28-4 in the MIAA. They are ranked #6 in the ABCA National Poll and #1 in the NCAA Division II South Central Regional. They are led by Ben Cox is leading the team hitting .405 with one home run and 16 runs batted in. Jon Oropeza leads the team with five home runs and 34 runs driven in. Lee Stoppelman is 6-0 on the year with a 1.62 earned run average.
ON DECK
The Hornets will close out the regular season with a home and home series against Washburn. The Turnpike Tussle baseball edition starts in Emporia on May 4 and closes in Topeka on May 5.
