Emporia State Hornets (29-14, 21-11 MIAA) vs
#27 Washburn Ichabods (29-13, 24-8 MIAA)
April 27 • 5:00 p.m. • Glennen Field/Trusler Sports Complex • Emporia, Kan.
Radio: KFFX 104.9FM [4:50 p.m.] Internet [audio]: kvoe.com
Series Record: ESU leads 168-74-1
Last Meeting: at WU 9, ESU 2 (April 19, 2016)
Up Next: at Northwest Missouri • April 29-May 1, 2016 • Bearcat Field • Maryville, Mo.
LAST OF THE MID-WEEKS
The Hornets will face #27 Washburn for the third game of the series on Wednesday, April 27 at 5:00 p.m. at Glennen Field in Trusler.
LAST AT BAT
Emporia State dropped a three game series 2-1 at Lindenwood over the weekend, but they outscored the Lions 24-12 in the series.
Dalton Wheat hit six for 13 during the series with four RBI and four runs scored. Jonny Hodges went six for 14 with four RBI and three runs scored. Derek Francis hit four for nine with five RBI. Daniel LaMunyon had four runs scored while Aaron Gile had three runs scored. BJ Dean had three RBI.
Garrett Brummett took the loss in game one, pitching 2.1 innings with five strike outs, allowing one run off one hit. Jordan Plank picked up a win in game two, pitching 5.0 innings allowing no runs off six hits. Matt Slauter had the loss on Sunday afternoon, pitching 5.2 innings with five strike outs.
THE COACHES
Bob Fornelli is 513-224 in his 13th season at Emporia State and is 819-337 overall in his 20th 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 15 times, and was the national runner-up in 2009 with Emporia State and in 2000 while at Ft. Hays State. He is 38-20 against the Ichabods.
Harley Douglas is 62-33 in his second year as head coach at Washburn. He is 4-5 against the Hornets.
ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 29-14 on the season and 21-11 in the MIAA. The Hornets are ranked fourth nationally in fielding percentage, 10th in slugging percentage, 12th in scoring and runs, 15th in doubles and 16th in hits and home runs. Evan Koehler is fifth in the nation with 18 home runs, 13th in RBI and 25th in slugging percentage.
Emporia State leads the MIAA with 352 strike outs and second with a 4.49 ERA. Tyler Stubblefield is 14th in the nation with eight wins, is second in the MIAA with 78 strike outs and third with a 2.62 ERA. Matt Slauter is 13th in the nation with 1.05 walks allowed per nine innings and 14th with a 7.17 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
SCOUTING THE ICHABODS
Washburn is 29-13 and second in the MIAA with a 24-8 record. The Ichabods are fourth in the nation in stolen bases with Kyle Carnahan leading the MIAA with 31 threfts. They are 16th in home runs and 18th in scoring in the MIAA.
SERIES HISTORY
Emporia State leads the all-time series 168-74-1 over Washburn.
LAST TIME AGAINST WASHBURN
Emporia State fell 9-2 to Washburn last Tuesday in Topeka. Dalton Wheat was the only player with more than one hit for the Hornets, going three for four with a solo home run and two runs scored.
ON DECK
Emporia State will travel to Maryville, Mo. to face Northwest Missouri in a three game series. First pitch will be Friday, April 29 at 3:00 p.m. at Bearcat Field.
HE'S A WINNER
Emporia State head baseball coach Bob Fornelli has 819 career wins and is 513-224 (.696) in his 13th 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. The Hornets have made ten trips to the NCAA Tournament in his first 12 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 15 of his 19 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 five times.
He is the fourth winningest active coach in NCAA Division II and ranks 15th in career victories with a 819-337 record in his 20th season.
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 Butler County CC. He is married to the former Jill Harris of Madison, Kan. The couple has three daughters - Emma, Rylie and Addison.
PUTTING UP RUNS
The Hornets lead the MIAA in three offensive categories with 104 doubles, a .541 slugging percentage and a .973 fielding percentage. Emporia State has a .335 batting average, 387 runs scored, 513 hits, 353 RBI and 72 stolen bases, all good enough for second in the MIAA. Emporia State is fourth in the nation in fielding percentage, 10th in slugging percentage, 12th in both scoring and runs, 15th in doubles, 16th in hits and home runs, 20th in batting average, 26th in triples. They have scored at least ten runs in 16 games and at least 15 runs in nine games with four games in which they have scored at least 20 runs.
Evan Koehler is leading the MIAA and fifth in the nation with 18 home runs. He is also third in the league and 13th in the nation with 57 RBI, fourth in the MIAA, 25th in the nation, with a .747 slugging percentage and 29th in the nation with 118 total bases. Wade Hanna is fifth in the MIAA with five triples. Dalton Wheat is sixth in the league with a .392 batting average, seventh with 16 stolen bases, ninth with four triples and tenth with both 47 RBI and a .476 on base percentage. Derek Francis is seventh in the MIAA with a .389 batting average and ninth with a .695 slugging percentage.
SWING AND MISS STUFF
The Hornets are leading the MIAA with 352 strike outs and are second with a 4.49 ERA. Emporia State is 20th in the nation in strike outs per innings pitched.
Tyler Stubblefield leads the MIAA and is ranked 14th in the nation with eight wins. He also leads the league with 25 batters struck out looking. Stubblefield is second in the MIAA with 78 strike outs and third with a 2.62 ERA. He is also fourth with 75.2 innings pitched and fifth with a .225 opponent batting average. Matt Slauter 13th in the nation with 1.05 walks allowed per nine innings and 14th with a 7.17 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Jordan Plank is eighth in the MIAA with both 59 strike outs and a 3.88 ERA.
HORNETS IN THE POSTSEASON
Last season Emporia State made their 11th trip to the NCAA Tournament and tenth in 12 years. The Hornets have advanced to the NCAA Division II World Series twice, in 2006 and 2009. In 2009 they made it to the national championship game before falling 2-1 to Lynn. They have been to three regional championship games including a 6-3 loss to Minnesota State in 2014. Emporia State made five trips to the NAIA World Series before joining the NCAA in 1992. They were the NAIA National Champions in 1978, runners up in 1987 and finished third in 1976.
TRENDS
Emporia State is outscoring opponents 73-22 in the fourth inning.
The Hornets are 18-0 when scoring in the first inning.
The Hornets are 24-1 when scoring at least six runs in a game.
Emporia State is 25-3 when leading after the sixth inning.
The Hornets are 3-7 over their last ten games and are batting just .281 as a team with a 7.08 ERA.
