Baseball | 5/9/2012 12:25:00 PM
TURNPIKE TUSSLE TOURNEY
The Hornets will start where they left off in the regular season facing Washburn to open the MIAA Tournament with the Turnpike Tussle. The two teams haven’t met in the post season Tournament since May 12, 2001.
LAST AT BAT
The Hornets jumped out to a 6-0 lead and it held up as the Hornets rolled to a 10-3 victory to take the series finale. At the plate Jordan Slad ewent three for five and drove in two runs. Joe Kornbrust was three for six with two runs scored and a single run driven in. Making his first start in the infield since joining the squad Dominick King added two RBI. This after pitching 5.1 innings in the game prior. On the mound Shawn Talkington allowed just one run over 8.0 innings pitched as he struck out four to earn his second win.
THE COACHES
Bob Fornelli is 376-153 in his ninth season at ESU and is 680-263 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.
Steve Anson is 808-713-3 in his 33rd season with the Ichabods.
THE SERIES
This will be the 220th meeting between the two team with ESU holding a 156-64-1 overall advantage. Despite meeting over 200 times the two teams have only played four times in the post-season with the series all square at 2-2. The two teams have never faced each other since the Tournament moved to Community America.
LAST TIME VS. WU IN POST
Washburn outhit the Hornets 15-8 as they defeated ESU 12-5 in the MIAA Tournament on May 12, 2001 in Warrensburg, Mo. For the Hornets Scott Patrick drove in two runs and Kentaro Yasutake earned the loss on the mound.
SCOUTING THE ICHABODS
Washburn is 26-22 and 22-18 in the MIAA this season. John Calhoun is leading the way at the plate hitting .401 with nine home runs and 41 RBI. Brad Alberts is hitting .382 with seven home runs and 38 runs batted in. On the mound Brett Ash is 6-4 with a 3.17 earned run average while Kerry Schachenmeyer is 7-2 with a 4.73 ERA.
ON DECK
The winner if they are the lowest winning seed with face Central Missouri, if they are the highest winning seed they will face Missouri Western.
