Emporia State Hornets (34-12, 23-12 MIAA)
vs. Lindenwood Lions (26-23, 16-16 MIAA)
April 30, 2015 • 6:00 p.m. • Glennen Field/Trusler • Emporia, Kan. Â
May 1, 2015 • 5:00 p.m. • Glennen Field/Trusler • Emporia, Kan. Â
May 2, 2015 • 1:00 p.m. • Glennen Field/Trusler • Emporia, Kan. (If needed)
Series Record: ESU leads 5-2Â Last Meeting: at LWU 2, ESU 0 (April 26, 2014)Â Â
Radio: KFFX 104.9FM Internet Audio:
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Complete Notes in pdfUp Next: Winner to MIAA Tournament • May 7-9, 2015
CommunityAmerica Ballpark • Kansas City, Kan.
POST SEASON TIME
For the second straight season the Hornets will enter the MIAA Tournament as the #2 seed when they take on Lindenwood in the Opening Round Series. This will be the first meeting this year between Emporia State and Lindenwood due to the MIAA's unbalanced schedule.
LAST AT BAT
Dean Long had two home runs as Emporia State defeated Pittsburg State 9-8 to win their series and move into second place in the MIAA. The Hornets fell behind 4-0 in the top of the third and trailed 8-6 in the bottom of the seventh when Long hit his second homer to tie the score. Jonny Hodges got a pinch hit single in the eighth and moved to second on a sac bunt. He then scored the game winning run on Jordan Hodges single and a throwing error by the left fielder. Long finished the game three for four with two home runs, four RBI and two runs scored. Shawn Talkington faced the minimum in the ninth for his ninth save.
THE COACHES
Bob Fornelli is 479-206 in his 12th season at Emporia State and is 785-319 overall in his 19th year as a four year head coach. He is the fourth winningest active coach in NCAA Division II and is 15th in total victories. He has led Emporia State to two Division II World Series appearances in nine NCAA Tournaments. Fornelli has taken teams to the NCAA Tournament 14 times, and was the national runner-up in 2009 with Emporia State and in 2000 while at Ft. Hays State. He is 23-20 in all MIAA Tournament games. He is 5-2 against Lindenwood.
Doug Bletcher is 257-170-1 in his eighth season at Lindenwood and 616-352-2 in his 17th season as a head coach. He is 2-5 against Emporia State.
ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 34-12 on the season, 23-12 in the MIAA and the second seed in the tournament. In the latest NCAA statistics the Hornets are ranked second in the nation in slugging percentage, third in home runs per game, seventh in doubles per game, eighth in scoring and tenth in batting average.
SCOUTING THE LIONS
Lindenwood is 26-23 overall, 16-16 in the MIAA and the seventh seed in the tournament. They made the MIAA Tournament by winning three of four games from Central Missouri over the weekend. They are tenth in the nation in sacrifice flies. Wade Rothermich is batting .381 with 14 doubles, five triples, nine home runs and 49 RBI. Brendan Kleekamp is 5-2 with a 4.05 ERA on the mound.
THE SERIES
Thursday's game will be just the eighth meeting between the two teams with Emporia State leading 5-2.
LAST AT BAT VS. LINDENWOOD
The Hornets saw their 15 game winning streak come to an end in a 2-0 loss at Lindenwood in the second game of a double header last year. Travis Hendry gave up five hits in 5.0 innings with single runs in the third and fifth with five strikeouts and no walks. Justin Harris was two for four while Toby Cornejo had a lead off triple in the ninth but was stranded. Dakota McKaskle tossed a three hit shutout in the Hornets 1-0 win in the first game.
HE'S A WINNER
Emporia State head baseball coach Bob Fornelli has 785 career wins and is 479-206 (.699) in his 12th season at Emporia State. Fornelli is the second winningest coach at Emporia State behind Dave Bingham who was 557-223 (.714) in 14 years from 1974-87. Last year was the Hornets ninth trip to the NCAA Tournament in 11 years and he has twice led Emporia State to the Division II World Series, in 2006 and 2009. He has taken teams to the NCAA Tournament in 14 of his 18 years as a collegiate coach.
Fornelli, a 1991 graduate of Emporia State, spent seven years at Ft. Hays State where he compiled a 306-113 record and led the Tigers to the NCAA Division II national championship game in 2000 and was in the NCAA regional tournament six times. Prior to his time in Hays, Fornelli was the pitching coach at Butler County Community College in El Dorado, Kan., from 1991 until 1996. During his tenure the Grizzlies were 195-86 and finished third in the NJCAA World Series in 1994. A native of Lenexa, Kan., he was an honorable mention All-Central States Intercollegiate Conference catcher for the Hornets as a senior after transferring from BCCC. He is married to the former Jill Harris of Madison, Kan. The couple has three daughters - Emma, Rylie and Addison.
REGIONALLY SPEAKING
Emporia State is ranked third in the latest NCAA Central Region and are the highest MIAA team in the rankings. The automatic qualifiers from the MIAA, NSIC and GAC along with the next three highest ranked regional teams will make the NCAA Tournament. All Division II games count in the regional rankings and the Hornets 11-0 non-conference record against D2 teams has helped position them so high in the region despite being in second place in the MIAA standings.
POWER AND LIGHT DISTRICT
Emporia State is ranked in the top ten nationally in six offensive categories. The Hornets are ranked second in the nation in slugging percentage, third in home runs per game, seventh in doubles per game, eighth in scoring, and tenth in batting average and runs scored. Â
IF I HAD A MILLION DOLLARS
Justin Harris leads the nation in doubles, is ranked fifth in hits, seventh in stolen bases, eighth in batting average and runs scored. His 25 doubles rank fourth on the Emporia State single season list and his 44 stolen bases last year ranks fourth as well. He is ranked eighth on the career list for the Hornets in doubles with 36 and is tenth with 163 career hits. He has a .518 on base percentage when leading off an inning. He had a 29 game hitting streak, the longest by a Hornet since Dillon Hazlett had a 32 game streak in 2011, snapped in the third game against Pittsburg State.
HIT IT LONG
Dean Long is ranked fourth in the nation in RBI per game, seventh in home runs, eighth in getting hit by pitch, and ninth in slugging percentage. His 20 home runs rank third on the Emporia State single season list. His 34 home runs over the last two years is tied for third on the Hornets career list and his 137 RBI rank tenth. He has reached base safely (by hit, walk or HBP) in 38 straight games and has been on base in every game this year and in 58 straight games dating back to last year.
MOUND PRESENCE
Emporia State's pitchers have 300 strike outs and 134 walks in 368.2 innings and rank 58th in the nation in strike out to walk ratio. Last season the Hornet pitching staff was third in the nation in strikeout to walk ratio with 427 K's and only 132 base on balls.
STARTERS
Seven different players have started a game for the Hornets this year. Travis Hendry has 13 appearances with ten starts and is 8-1 on the season with a 4.25 ERA. He has 42 strikeouts and just 17 walks. Garrett Bane is 5-2 on the season with a 4.47 ERA and has two complete games and the only complete game shutout for the Hornets this year. Garrett Brummett is 3-3 with a 6.94 ERA and leads Emporia State with 53 K's and only 13 walks in 49.0 innings.
THE IRON THRONE
Shawn Talkington is 5-4 on the season with a 4.29 ERA and 48 strikeouts on the season. He is 3-2 with a 2.57 ERA and nine saves in 17 appearances out of the bullpen. He has 32 strikeouts and just three walks in 28.0 relief innings. His nine saves this year rank sixth on the Emporia State single season chart. He has 199 career strikeouts and to rank seventh all-time at Emporia State.
ON DECK
The winner of the series will advance to the four team, double elimination MIAA Tournament next weekend at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Kan. Game time will be at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 7 against either Central Missouri or Neb.-Kearney.
