May 11, 2015-Game times and ticket prices have been set for Emporia State in this weekend's NCAA Division II Baseball Central Regional Tournament in St. Cloud, Minn.  It is the tenth time in the last 12 years the Hornets have advanced to regional play.

Emporia State will take on Southern Arkansas in the first game of the tournament at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 14 at Joe Faber Field in the St. Cloud Municipal Athletic Complex.  It will be the first time the Hornets and Muleriders have met since the semi-finals of the 1987 NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho.

Emporia State finished the season 39-14 overall and 23-12 in the MIAA. In the latest NCAA statistics the Hornets are ranked third in the nation in home runs, fourth in slugging percentage, seventh in runs scored, eighth in hits, ninth in doubles and tenth in stolen bases.

The Muleriders are 39-16 overall and went 20-10 in the Great American Conference. They defeated Henderson State in the GAC Tournament Championship game to earn the conference's automatic bid.  They are batting .302 as a team with 46 home runs and a 3.61 staff ERA.

This is Emporia State's 11th trip all-time to the NCAA Tournament and the tenth tourney berth in the last 12 years.  They are 20-20 in their previous ten NCAA Tournament appearances and 19-18 under Bob Fornelli.  The Hornets have made two trips to the NCAA Division II National Championship Finals and were the 2009 National Runners-up.  They won the NAIA National Championship in 1978, finished second in 1987 and were third in 1976.

The team will be leaving for St. Cloud on Tuesday, May 12 at 2:00 p.m. from the Trusler Sports Complex.

NCAA Central Regional
Joe Faber Field
St. Cloud, Minn.
Schedule
Thursday, May 14
11:00 a.m.    #3 Emporia State vs. #4 Southern Arkansas
3:00 p.m.    #2 Minnesota State vs. #5 Missouri Southern
7:00 p.m.    #1 St. Cloud State vs. #6 Henderson State
Friday, May 15
11:00 a.m.    Loser SCSU/HSU vs. Loser MSU/MSSU
3:00 p.m.    Winner SCSU/HSU vs. Loser ESU/SAU
7:00 p.m.    Winner MSU/MSSU vs. Winner ESU/SAU
After Friday brackets will be determined by the number of teams remaining.

Ticket Prices
All-Tournament
General Admission    $25
Single Day
GA Youth/Student (2 years through college)    $5
GA Adult    $10

Team Capsules
#1 St. Cloud State 51-3, 31-3 NSIC
Team BA .363 Team ERA 2.76 Team Fielding% .967
#2 Minnesota State 41-7, 30-4 NSIC
Team BA .364 Team ERA 3.92 Team Fielding% .962
#3 Emporia State 39-14, 23-12 MIAA
Team BA .335 Team ERA 5.60 Team Fielding% .960
#4 Southern Arkansas 39-16, 20-10 GAC
Team BA .302 Team ERA 3.61 Team Fielding% .966
#5 Missouri Southern 40-12, 26-6 MIAA
Team BA .324 Team ERA 4.33 Team Fielding% .973
#6 Henderson State 27-19, 16-10 GAC
Team BA .289 Team ERA 4.00 Team Fielding% .960

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