Baseball | 2/14/2014 1:41:00 PM
Game Notes in pdf
2014 HORNET BASEBALL
at Emporia State Hornets (0-0, 0-0 MIAA)
vs. Southwest Minnesota State (0-0, 0-0 NSIC)
Feb. 15, 2014 • 1:00 p.m. • Emporia, Kan. • Glennen Field
Feb. 16, 2014 • 11:00 a.m. • Emporia, Kan. • Glennen Field
Series Record: ESU leads 2-0 Last Meeting: ESU 11, at SMSU 6 (1972)
vs. Missouri Western (1-1. 0-0 MIAA)
Feb. 16, 2014 • 4:00 p.m. • Emporia, Kan. • Glennen Field
Series Record: ESU leads 96-37 Last Meeting: MWSU 12 at ESU 2 (02/17/13)
Up Next: at Newman • Feb. 19 at 3:00 p.m. • Wichita, Kan.
OPENING DAY
Emporia State opens the 2014 season with three added games at Glennen Field after their opening four-game series against Metropolitan State was canceled due to inclement weather. The Hornets will play two games against Southwest Minnesota State and one versus Missouri Western.
HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS
Emporia State will open the 2014 baseball season playing seven of their first eight games at Glennen Field, including the first four MIAA games of the season. The Hornets were 13-8 at home in 2013.
THE COACH
Bob Fornelli is 404-175 in his 11th season at Emporia State and is 710-288 overall in his 18th year overall. He is the fourth winningest active coach in Division II and is 19th in total victories. He has led Emporia State to two Division II World Series appearances in eight NCAA Tournaments. Fornelli has taken teams to the NCAA Tournament 11 times, and was the national runner-up in 2009 with Emporia State and in 2000 while at Ft. Hays State.
ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is coming off a 27-22 season. The Hornets return a veteran pitching staff and will be ready to get a look at several players who transferred into the program during the off season. Senior Dakota McKaskie will take the ball in the season opener. McKaskie had six wins in 2013. He will be followed in the rotation by Shawn Talkington and Jarrod Miller.
SCOUTING THE MUSTANGS
Southwest Minnesota State will be playing its first games of the season as well, after their opener in Pittsburg, Kan. was canceled. The Mustangs finished 17-23-1 in 2013 and finished 10th in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The Mustangs are coached by Paul Blanchard who has a career record of 429-334-1 in 17 seasons.
SCOUTING THE GRIFFONS
Missouri Western enters the game with a 1-1 record after splitting two games against Arkansas Tech. The Griffons were 40-12 in 2013 and finished first in the MIAA. Missouri Western is coached by Buzz Verduzco who is 402-307 all time as a head coach.
SERIES RECORDS
Emporia State leads the all-time series against both teams with a 2-0 record against the Mustangs and a 96-37 advantage against Missouri Western.
LAST TIME VS. SMSU and MWSU
The Hornets and Mustangs last met during the 1972 season with ESU winning an 11-6 game. Missouri Western swept a three game series against the Hornets on Feb. 16-17, 2013. The Hornets fell 8-5 and 7-6 in the double header before the Griffons took a 12-2 win in the final game.
ON DECK
The Hornets will play their first road game of the year in a non-conference contest against Newman in Wichita on Feb. 19 at 3:00 p.m.
