Baseball | 4/3/2014 1:37:00 PM
Emporia State Hornets (19-11, 14-10 MIAA)
vs. Washburn Ichabods (13-13, 13-11 MIAA)
April 4, 2014 • 6:00 p.m. • Topeka, Kan. • Falley Field
April 5, 2014 • 2:00 p.m. • Emporia, Kan. • Glennen Field/Trusler Sports Complex
April 6, 2014 • 1:00 p.m. • Topeka, Kan. • Falley Field
Series Record: ESU leads 159-66-1 Last Meeting: at ESU 9, WU 7 (3/11/14)
Up Next: at #26 Central Missouri • April 8, 2014 at 6:00 p.m.
Warrensburg, Mo. • Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field.
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TURNPIKE GETS A WORKOUT
Emporia State and Washburn will each travel the Kansas Turnpike this weekend in a four game split location Turnpike Tussle. The teams will play single games in Topeka on Friday and Sunday, sandwiched around a double header in Emporia on Saturday.
LAST AT BAT
Emporia State scored three runs in the final two innings to post a 4-3 come from behind win over #26 Central Missouri in non-conference action at the Trusler Sports Complex. The Hornets got a run in the first and the Mules got three in the fourth. Dean Long's two run homer tied the game in the bottom of the eighth at 3-3. In the ninth Justin Harris reached on an error and Jordan Hodges and Dalton Piecukonis both worked full count pinch hit walks to load the bases. Levi Parker hit a chopper in front of the plate and Harris was able to beat the catcher to the plate for the walk-off win.
THE COACHES
Bob Fornelli is 423-187 in his 11th season at Emporia State and is 728-296 overall in his 18th year overall. He is the fifth 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 13 times, and was the national runner-up in 2009 with Emporia State and in 2000 while at Ft. Hays State.
Steve Anson is 831-787-3 in his 35th season at Washburn and 854-809-3 overall in 36 seasons overall.
ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 19-11 overall and 14-9 in the MIAA. They are third in the MIAA standings. As a team they are batting .288, have a 4.80 ERA and a .962 team fielding percentage.
SCOUTING THE ICHABODS
Washburn is 13-13 overall and 13-11 in the MIAA. They are ranked fourth in the MIAA with a 4.60 ERA, are 13th in the league with a .276 team batting average, and have a .949 fielding percentage to rank tenth in the conference.
THE SERIES
Friday night will be the 226th meeting between the two with Emporia State leading the series 159-66-1.
LAST TIME VS. WU
The Hornets came away with a 9-7 win at the Trusler Sports Complex. Emporia State scored single runs in the first two innings without a hit. Washburn tied the score in the top of the third. The Hornets retook the lead on an RBI ground out by Levi Parker in the fourth. Parker and Toby Cornejo each got RBI singles and. Emporia State went up 6-2 when Parker stole home as part of a double steal in the sixth. The Ichabods pulled within 6-3 in the seventh only to see the Hornets answer with a double from Todd Schultz that plated Zach Stucky in the bottom of the inning. Washburn scored four runs in the top of the eighth to tie the score. With the bases loaded in the eighth Stucky delivered the game winning RBI on a single to left. Brenton Higgins worked the ninth to pick up the save.
ON DECK
The Hornets travel to Warrensburg, Mo. on Tuesday, April 8 to play #26 Central Missouri.
