Baseball | 1/31/2013 9:48:00 AM
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January 31, 2013-The #40 Emporia State baseball team will open the season this weekend at the Astros In Action D-II Invitational at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. It is the first time the Hornets have opened the season in a major league ball park.
Emporia State will open on Friday, Feb.1 against the University of the Incarnate Word. The Cardinals were 23-21 last season, going 16-11 in the Lone Star Conference. First pitch is set for 4:00 p.m. on Friday.
The Hornets will play Texas A&M-Kingsville in their second game on Saturday, Feb. 2 at 10:00 a.m. The Javelinas went 31-18, 18-10 in the Lones Star and advanced to the NCAA South Central Regional Tournament last season.
Emporia State's third opponent will be Tarleton State on Super Bowl Sunday. The Texans were 30-21 overall and 16-12 in the Lone Star last season while advancing to the LSC Tournament Championship game. First pitch on Feb. 3 is set for 10:00 a.m.
The Hornets final game in Houston will be against Great American Conference member Arkansas Tech at 10:00 a.m. on Monday. The Wonder Boys went 26-27 overall and were 13-11 in the GAC last season.
Emporia State returns three All-MIAA players from last year's 26-22 squad in first-team All-MIAA second baseman Eric Dawson, second-team All-MIAA shortstop Ashton McCoy and MIAA Freshman of the Year Pitcher Shawn Talkington.
The Hornets, who are ranked #40 in the nation in the ABCA/Collegiate Newspaper Preseason Poll, have played in the NCAA Tournament in eight of the last nine years with two Division II World Series appearances.
Tickets for the Astros in Action D-II Invitational are $10 daily.
