Baseball | 4/29/2014 11:06:00 PM
Emporia State Hornets (34-15, 26-14 MIAA)
vs.
Washburn Ichabods (25-22, 22-18 MIAA)
Thursday, May 1 at 6:00 p.m. • Glennen Field/Trusler Sports Complex • Emporia, Kan.
Friday, May 2 at 6:00 p.m. • Glennen Field/Trusler Sports Complex • Emporia, Kan.
Saturday, May 3 at 3:00 p.m.(if needed) • Glennen Field/Trusler Sports Complex • Emporia, Kan.
Radio: KFFX 104.9FM Internet (Audio):
www.kvoe.comSeries Record: ESU leads 161-69-1 Last Meeting: ESU 7, at WU 6 (4/15/2014)
Up Next: Winner at MIAA Tournament • Thursday, May 8 at 2:30 p.m.
Hammons Field • Springfield, Mo.
Complete Notes in pdf •
Live StatsTOURNAMENT TURNPIKE TUSSLE
Emporia State plays host to rival Washburn in the MIAA Tournament Opening Round Series at Trusler. The Hornets are the #2 seed in the MIAA Tournament with the Ichabods seeded seventh.
LAST AT BAT
Emporia State finished the regular season with a series win at Lindenwood. The Hornets saw their winning streak reach 15 with a 1-0 win in the first game before falling 2-0 in game two in St. Charles, Mo.
THE COACHES
Bob Fornelli is 438-191 in his 11th season at Emporia State and is 743-301 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.
Steve Anson is 843-796-3 in his 35th season at Washburn and 866-818-3 overall in 36 seasons overall.
ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 34-15 overall and 26-14 in the MIAA. They are receiving votes in this week's ABCA/College Baseball Newspaper national poll and were ranked seventh in last week's NCAA Central Regional Rankings. The Hornets won 15 straight before falling 2-0 in the season finale at Lindenwood. They are batting .297, with a 4.19 ERA and a .965 team fielding percentage. Emporia State pitchers lead the MIAA and are ranked in sixth nationally in K/BB ratio. At the plate the Hornets are sixth in the nation in home runs while the lead the MIAA and are ranked eighth in stolen bases. Dean Long leads the MIAA in RBI with 53 and Justin Harris has an MIAA best 37 stolen bases.
SCOUTING THE ICHABODS
Washburn is 25-22 on the season and went 22-18 in the MIAA. They have a .301 team batting average, 4.59 team ERA and a .956 team fielding percentage. Brett Ash leads MIAA starters with a 1.66 ERA while holding opposing batters to just a .168 average in eight starts. Kyle Carnahan leads the MIAA with a .527 on base percentage.
THE SERIES
Thursday will be the 231st meeting between the Hornets and Ichabods with Emporia State leading the series 161-69-1. The two split six games this season with each team going 1-2 at home. Despite meeting over 230 times this will be just the sixth post season game between the two. Washburn leads 3-2 in the postseason taking the advantage with a 4-1 win in 2012 at Community America Ballpark.
LAST TIME VS. WASHBURN
Dean Long had the game winning RBI and started the game ending double play for Emporia State in a 7-6 win over Washburn in Topeka. Justin Harris went three for four with four RBI for the Hornets while Levi 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.
ON DECK
The winner of this series will play the winner of the series between Central Oklahoma and Neb.-Kearney in the first round of the MIAA Tournament in Springfield, Mo. on May 8 at 2:30 p.m.
