Baseball | 2/17/2014 11:28:00 AM
Game Notes in pdf
2014 HORNET BASEBALL
Emporia State Hornets (3-0, 0-0 MIAA)
at Newman (2-4, 0-0 Heartland)
Feb. 19, 2014 • 3:00 p.m. • Wichita, Kan.
Series Record: ESU leads 43-17 Last Meeting: ESU 18, at Newman 8 (04/24/12)
vs. Central Oklahoma(3-0, 0-0 MIAA)
Feb. 21, 2014 • 2:00 p.m. • Emporia, Kan. • Glennen Field
Feb. 22, 2014 • 1:00 p.m. (DH) • Emporia, Kan. • Glennen Field
Feb. 23, 2014 • 12:00 p.m. • Emporia, Kan. • Glennen Field
Series Record: UCO leads 17-18 Last Meeting: at UCO 9 at ESU 2 (05/04/13)
Up Next: at Pittsburg State • Feb. 28-March 2. • Pittsburg, Kan.
Road Trip and MIAA Opener
Emporia State travels to Wichita, Kan. for a mid-week non-conference game against Newman on Feb.19. The Hornets will then return to home action with a four-game series to open MIAA play against Central Oklahoma.
COMEBACK WINS
The Hornets had two come-from-behind wins over the weekend to go 3-0 in their first games of the season. Wade Hanna hit a game-winning 8th inning home run against Missouri Western in a 10-9 victory. Emporia State won two games against Southwest Minnesota State by scores of 11-7 and 4-2.
THE COACH
Bob Fornelli is 407-175 in his 11th season at Emporia State and is 713-288 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
ESU's offense got off to a quick start in its first three games. The Hornets hit .355 in three games, scored 25 runs and amassed 13 extra base hits. Six different players hit home runs over the weekend. Hornet newcomer Dean Long had four RBI, while center fielder Justin Harris scored six runs. ESU stole nine bases and Garrett Bane had two wins in relief.
SCOUTING THE JETS
The Jets are 2-4 on the season and play in the Heartland Conference. Alex Lator leads Newman with five RBI. Zane Ehling is in his fourth season as head coach of the Jets and has a 63-70 record at Newman.
SCOUTING THE BRONCHOS
UCO swept three games from Arkansas-Fort Smith over the weekend. They will play Arlington Baptist on the Feb. 19 before arriving in Emporia. Phillip Wilson had two home runs and drove in four in the Bronchos opening series. The Bronchos are coached by Dax Leone who is 88-59 at UCO.
SERIES RECORDS
Emporia State and Newman will face each other for the 61st time. The Hornets lead the all-times series 43-17. The Bronchos have a one-game lead in the all-time series against Emporia State with 18 wins and 17 losses.
LAST TIME VS. NEWMAN & UCO
Joe Vaskas was five for six from the plate hitting a home run in an 18-8 win against Newman in April 2012. The last time the Hornets and Bronchos met was in the MIAA Tournament Opening Round Series in which UCO won two games to none. ESU and UCO split four regular season games in 2013.
ON DECK
The Hornets will the travel to Pittsburg State Feb. 28-March 2 for four MIAA games. The Hornets were 3-1 against the Gorillas in 2013.
