Baseball | 4/17/2014 6:08:00 PM
Emporia State Hornets (26-14, 19-13 MIAA)
vs.
Northwest Missouri Bearcats (21-17, 15-14 MIAA)
Friday, April 18 at 2:00 p.m. • Glennen Field/Trusler Sports Complex • Emporia, Kan.
Saturday, April 19 at 1:00 p.m. • Glennen Field/Trusler Sports Complex • Emporia, Kan.
Radio: KFFX 14.9FM (First Game Saturday only) Audio Webcast: www.kvoe.com (First Game Saturday only)
Series Record: ESU leads 50-32 Last Meeting: at ESU 10, NWMSU 6 (4/14/13)
Up Next: vs. Newman • Tuesday, April 22 at 5:00 p.m.
Glennen Field/Trusler Sports Complex • Emporia, Kan.
Live Stats • Complete Notes in pdf
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LAST HOME SERIES
Emporia State returns to the Trusler Sports Complex for their final MIAA regular season series of the season against Northwest Missouri. The Hornets are battling for a top four finish and home field in the MIAA Tournament's Opening Round. They enter this series tied for fourth with Southwest Baptist with both teams one game in front of Neb.-Kearney.
LAST AT BAT
Dean Long had the game winning RBI and started the game ending double play for Emporia State in a 7-6 win over Washburn on Tuesday in Topeka. With the score tied Jordan Hodges pinch hit to lead off the top of the ninth for Emporia State and singled up the middle. Levi Parker sacrificed him to second and Long drove him home with a single to left for a 7-6 lead. Justin Harris went three for four with four RBI for the Hornets while Parker went one for three with two runs scored. Brenton Higgins faced the minimum over the last 2.0 innings to pick up the win, allowing no hits with a walk and a strikeout.
THE COACHES
Bob Fornelli is 430-190 in his 11th season at Emporia State and is 735-300 overall in his 18th year overall. He is the fifth winningest active coach in NCAA 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 13 times, and was the national runner-up in 2009 with Emporia State and in 2000 while at Ft. Hays State.
Darin Loe is 387-389 in his 15th season at Washburn and 543-523 overall in 21 seasons overall.
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ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 26-14 overall and 19-13 in the MIAA. The Hornets have won seven straight games and scored at least ten runs in six of them. As a team they are batting .302, have a 4.68 ERA and a .961 team fielding percentage.
SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
Northwest Missouri is 21-17 on the year and 15-14 in the MIAA. They lead the MIAA with a .967 fielding percentage but are ninth in the MIAA with a 5.24 team ERA and a .289 team batting average.
THE SERIES
Friday's first game will be the 84th meeting between the two teams with Emporia State holding a 50-32 overall advantage. The Hornets have won 20 of the last 23 meetings between the two teams.
LAST TIME VS. NWMSU
Emporia State pounded out 18 hits including 12 for extra bases in a 10-6 series clinching win over Northwest Missouri. Jordan Slade was four of five with two RBI, three runs, two triples and a double. Like Slade, Eric Dawson was a homer short of the cycle going four for five with an RBI, two doubles and a triple. Aaron Rea went two for five with three RBI, a run scored and a home run. Garrett Bane went 3.1 innings and allowed one run on no hits with six strike outs to pick up the win.
ON DECK
The Hornets play their final regular season home game on Tuesday against Newman. First pitch of the non-conference contest is set for 5:00 p.m.
