Emporia State Hornets (37-17, 27-12 MIAA)
vs. Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs (39-14, 29-7 NSIC)
NCAA Central Regional Tournament
Series Record: ESU leads 2-1 Last Meeting: at ESU 17, UMD 4 (March 9, 2008
May 19, 2016 • 8:30 p.m. • Joe Faber Field • St. Cloud, Minn.
Radio: KFFX 104.9FM • Internet Audio:
kvoe.com
Internet Video:
portal.stretchinternet.com/scsu/
Live Stats •
Complete Notes in pdf
Up Next: vs. Central Missouri or Southwestern Oklahoma
May 20, 2016 • winners at 8:30 p.m./losers at 1:30 p.m.
MAY MADNESS
Emporia State will play #29 Minnesota-Duluth in the first round of the NCAA Central Regional Tournament. It is the third straight NCAA berth for the Hornets and their 11th in the last 13 years. This is just the second trip to the NCAA Tournament for the Bulldog and first since 2003
LAST AT BAT
Emporia State went 2-2 at the MIAA Tournament, winning their first two games 10-2 against Central Oklahoma and 12-4 against Washburn before falling 6-5 and 7-3 to Missouri Western. Daniel LaMunyon hit .438 in the tournament with a team high seven RBI. Tyler Stubblefield and Garrett Brummett picked up the two wins for Emporia State. Stubblefield pitched a complete game in the opener allowing three runs on nine hits with nine strike outs while Brummett allowed two runs on five hits with eight strike outs in 7.0 innings in the second game.
THE COACHES
Bob Fornelli is 521-227 in his 13th season at Emporia State and is 827-340 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 19-20 in the NCAA Tournament. He is 2-1 against the Bulldogs.
Bob Rients is 264-269 in his 11th year as head coach at Minnesota-Duluth. This will be his first trip to the NCAA Tournament as a head coach. He is 1-2 against the Hornets.
ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 37-17 on the season, 27-12 in the MIAA, are the #6 seed in the Central Regional. The Hornets are ranked fourth in the nation in runs scored, fifth in fielding percentage and hits, ninth in doubles and tenth in slugging percentage. Evan Koehler is ranked third in the nation in home runs and seventh in RBI. Dalton Wheat has reached base safely in 26 straight games.
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
Minnesota-Duluth is 39-14, 29-7 and regular season champions in the NSIC, and are the #3 seed in the Central Region. Alex Wojciechowski is batting .458 with 33 home runs and 101 RBI in 53 games while Kyle Comer bats .436 with 13 homers and 71 RBI and Jimmy Heck is at .435 with 17 home runs and 78 RBI. Bo Hellquist is 7-2 with a 3.86 ERA and 59 strike outs in ten starts. They lead the nation in home runs, rank second in slugging percentage and are third in batting average and on base percentage.
THE SERIES
Emporia State leads the all-time series 2-1 with the only meetings coming in a three game series in 2008 at Trusler.
LAST AT BAT AGAINST UMD
Anthony Dreiling was three for four with five RBI and three runs scored as Emporia State took game three of the series 17-4 against Minn.-Duluth at Trusler. Brendan Higgins went 5.1 innings to pick up the win.
ON DECK
Emporia State will play either Central Missouri or Southwestern Oklahoma on Friday. The winners will play at 8:30 p.m. while the losers will hit the field at 1:30 p.m.
HE'S A WINNER
Emporia State head baseball coach Bob Fornelli has 827 career wins and is 521-227 (.697) 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 11 trips to the NCAA Tournament in his 13 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 16 of his 20 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 827-340 (.709) 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.
HORNETS IN THE POSTSEASON
Emporia State is making their 12th overall, 11th in 13 years and third straight trip to the NCAA Tournament. 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. The Hornets are tenth in the first regional rankings this season.
PUTTING UP RUNS
The Hornets lead the MIAA in four offensive categories with 483 runs scored, 128 doubles, a .333 batting average, a .526 slugging percentage and a .973 fielding percentage, they are second in the league with 640 hits and 439 RBI, and third with 69 home runs, 21 triples, a .412 on base percentage and 84 stolen bases. Emporia State is fourth in the nation in fielding percentage, fifth in doubles, sixth in runs scored, seventh in hits and tenth in scoring per game. They have scored at least ten runs in 21 games and at least 15 runs in ten games with four games in which they have scored at least 20 runs.
Evan Koehler is leading the MIAA and third in the nation with 22 home runs, is third in the MIAA and tenth in the nation with 72 RBI and is fourth in the league and ranks 24th nationally with a .750 slugging percentage. He is fifth in the MIAA with 41 walks and ranks tenth with 59 runs scored. Dalton Wheat is second in the league with 21 doubles, ranks third with a .404 batting average and 84 hits, is sixth with 60 RBI and 18 stolen bases, eighth with a .480 on base percentage, is ninth with four triples and tenth with a .630 slugging percentage. He has reached base safely in 26 straight games and had a 24 game hitting streak snapped in his last game. Wade Hanna is fifth in the MIAA with six triples. Derek Francis ranks sixth in the MIAA with five sac flies. Jonny Hodges is tenth in the league with a .385 batting average.
SWING AND MISS STUFF
The Hornets are leading the MIAA with 423 total strike outs, a 2.49 strikeout to walk ratio and a league low 3.36 walks per nine innings. They are second in the MIAA with a 4.40 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 8.3 strikeouts per nine innings and three shut outs.
Tyler Stubblefield is a semifinalist for the Brett Tomko Award as the top pitcher in NCAA Division II. He leads the MIAA with a 2.57 ERA. He is second in the league with nine wins, and ranks fourth with 90 strike outs and 94.2 innings pitched while his opponents batting average of .236 ranks eighth in the MIAA. Garrett Brummett leads the MIAA and ranks sixth in the nation with 12.92 K/9IP. He is sixth in the MIAA in with five saves before moving into the starting rotation, is eighth in the league with a 3.48 ERA and ninth with 78 strike outs. Matt Slauter has allowed an MIAA low nine walks on the season and leads the league with a 5.33 strikeout-to-walk ratio and 1.27 walks allowed per nine innings. He is ninth in the league with six wins. Jordan Plank is ranked seventh in the MIAA with seven wins.
AROUND THE HORN
First baseman Evan Koehler (Sr./Wichita, Kan.) is a two-time First-Team All-MIAA selection. He leads the MIAA in home runs, is ranked third in RBI, is fourth in slugging percentage, fifth in walks and ranks tenth in runs scored. He is third in the nation in home runs this season and is ranked fifth among active players in NCAA Division II and seventh among all active NCAA Divisions with 36 career home runs. He is 14th in Division II with a .699 career slugging percentage. This season he is batting .333 with 22 home runs and 72 RBI.
Tucker Perkins (Fr.-RS/Cleveland, Mo.) has moved into the starting role at second base after spending much of the season at designated hitter. He is batting .364 with two home runs and 17 RBI in 38 games with 20 starts on the season.
Ryan McBroom (Jr./Wichita, Kan.) has a .992 fielding percentage with just one error in 125 chances and has emerged as a late inning defensive replacement at second base. He is batting .298 with four home runs and 25 RBI in 49 games this season with 27 starts.
Shortstop Levi Ashmore (Jr./Iola, Kan.) was named honorable mention All-MIAA. He is batting .298 with seven homers and 36 RBI in a team high 218 at bats. He has started all 54 games for Emporia State, with 53 of the starts at shortstop. He is a transfer from Neosho CC.
Third baseman Daniel LaMunyon (Jr./Shawnee, Kan.) was an honorable mention All-MIAA performer. He hit .438 with a team high seven RBI during the MIAA Tournament. On the season he is batting .333 with five home runs, 34 RBI and 13 stolen bases. He is a transfer from KCKCC.
OUT IN THE FIELD
Rightfielder Dalton Wheat (Sr./Augusta, Kan.) was a first-team All-MIAA pick. He is batting .404 with six home runs, 60 RBI, 57 runs and 18 stolen bases this season. He has six outfield assists from right field this year. He is second in the league in doubles, ranks third in batting average and hits, is sixth in RBI and stolen bases, eighth in on base percentage, is ninth in triples and tenth in slugging percentage. He has reached base safely in 26 straight games and had a 24 game hitting streak snapped in his last game at the MIAA Tournament.
Centerfielder Wade Hanna (Jr./Shawnee, Kan.) was a third-team All-MIAA selection. He is sixth for the Hornets in career base hits with 171 and at bats with 546 and is tied with several players for tenth on the Emporia State single season list with six triples. His six triples rank fifth in the MIAA this season.
Leftfielder Jonny Hodges (So./DeSoto, Kan.) has started 18 games in left field. He is ranked tenth in the MIAA with a .385 batting average in 40 games this season.
Outfielder BJ Dean (Jr./Pratt, Kan.) started 37 games with 31 starts in right field. He is batting .316 with nine home runs and 35 RBI in 49 games played. He is a transfer from Pratt CC.
BEHIND THE PLATE
The Hornets have had two catchers split time behind the plate this year.
Taylor Steen (Sr./Grand Forks, N.D.) has 38 starts in 40 games this season. He started 21 of the first 22 games this season before an injury sidelined him for nine of ten games from March 18 through April 5. He is batting .271 with 19 RBI on the season. He is a transfer from Indiana State.
Braxon Byfield (Jr./Wichita, Kan.) has started 16 of the last 36 games at catcher. He is hitting .353 with 14 RBI and 13 runs scored in 26 games this season.
AT THE PLATE
Designated hitter Derek Francis (Sr./Manhattan, Kan.) earned second-team All-MIAA honors at DH. He is sixth in the MIAA in sacrifice flies with five and is batting .341 with six home runs and 41 RBI. He is a transfer from Old Dominion.
START ME UP
Left handed pitcher Tyler Stubblefield (Jr./Lufkin, Texas) is 9-1 with a league best 2.57 ERA. He was a first-team All-MIAA selection and is a semifinalist for the Brett Tomko Award as the top pitcher in NCAA Division II. He leads the MIAA in ERA, is second in the league in wins, and ranks fourth in strike outs and innings pitched while his opponents batting average ranks eighth in the MIAA.
He has thrown at least 7.0 innings in ten of his 13 starts. He tossed a nine inning complete game against Central Oklahoma in the Hornets MIAA Tournament opener, allowing three runs on nine hits with nine strikeouts. It was just his second collegiate complete game and the first since he tossed a four hitter for Texas A&M and allowed two runs against Texas in the 2014 NCAA Regional.
START AND FINISH
Right handed pitcher Garrett Brummett (Sr./Concordia, Kan.) was a second-team All-MIAA selection as a relief pitcher. He is 6-2 with a 3.48 ERA and five saves on the season. He was the opening day starter for the Hornets before moving into the closer's role for the majority of the season. He returned to the starting lineup against Washburn on April 27 and is 2-0 with a 4.58 ERA with 22 strikeouts in his three starts since then. He leads the MIAA and ranks sixth in the nation with 12.92 strikeouts per nine innings. He is sixth in the MIAA saves, is eighth in the league with a 3.48 ERA and ninth with 78 strike outs.
WALK THE PLANK
Left handed pitcher Jordan Plank (Jr./Wichita, Kan.) was an honorable mention All-MIAA selection. He is 7-3 with a 4.35 EAR in 13 starts and 16 total appearances. His seven wins rank seventh in the MIAA.
MAD DASH
Right handed pitcher Matt Slauter (Jr./Olathe, Kan.) has allowed an MIAA low nine walks on the season and leads the league with a 5.33 strikeout-to-walk ratio and 1.27 walks allowed per nine innings. He is ninth in the league with six wins.
MORE THAN A JOCKEY
Left handed pitcher Jake Eikleberry (Sr./Byers, Colo.) is 3-2 on the season with a 5.63 ERA. He has appeared in 11 games with eight starts on the season, with five of the eight starts in midweek games.
OUT OF THE PEN
Right handed pitcher Jacob Tetuan (So./Topeka, Kan.) is 0-1 with a 5.24 ERA in 17 appearances out of the bullpen. He has 21 strike outs in 22.1 innings pitched.
Right handed pitcher Tevin Renkin (So./Little River, Kan.) is 1-0 with a 3.66 ERA in 15 appearances.He has 11 strike outs and four walks in 19.2 innings.
Right handed pitcher Trey Taylor (Fr.-RS/Paola, Kan.) is 2-0 with a 7.11 ERAin ten games. He has 12 strike outs in 12.2 innings pitched.
Left handed pitcher Shane Davies (Sr./Kansas city, Mo.) is 0-1 with a 3.09 ERA in a team high 19 relief appearances.
Left handed pitcher Grant Bachura (Sr./Council Grove, Kan.) is 0-0 with a 2.63 ERA in 13.2 innings pitched during nine bullpen outings. He has not thrown since April 9 but is on the active roster for the regional.
TRENDS
Emporia State is outscoring opponents 90-24 in the fourth inning.
The Hornets are 21-0 when scoring in the first inning.
Emporia State is 33-3 when leading after the sixth inning.
The Hornets are 31-1 when scoring at least six runs in a game.
Emporia State is 27-3 when scoring first.
In the last two years Emporia State has played in 12 post season elimination games with ten wins.
RECORD BOOKS
Evan Koehler is ranked fifth among active players in NCAA Division II and seventh among all active NCAA Divisions with 36 career home runs. He is 14th in Division II with a .699 career slugging percentage. He is ranked third in career home runs at Emporia State and his 22 homers this year rank fourth on the single season list.
Wade Hanna is sixth for the Hornets in career base hits with 171 and at bats with 546 and is tied with several players for tenth on the Emporia State single season list with six triples.
COMEBACK KIDS
Emporia State has 16 come from behind wins this year, including six where they have trailed and ultimately won by at least ten runs. They have scored a tying or winning run in the eighth inning or later five times this season.
The Hornets had 24 come from behind wins last season including 13 games when trailing in the fourth inning or later. Dean Long hit a walk off three-run homer with two outs in Emporia State's 10-9 win over Missouri Southern in the first MIAA Tournament Championship game. The Hornets were being no hit and trailing 2-0 going into the bottom of the fifth inning of 2014's first MIAA Championship game before rallying for a 3-2 victory to prolong their season.
REGIONALLY SPEAKING
Emporia State is seeded sixth in the NCAA Central Region and are one of three MIAA teams in the regional. As a conference the MIAA was 75-60 (.556) in non-league action this year while the GAC went 73-89 (.451) and the NSIC was 74-106 (.411) overall. Against only Division II opponents, the MIAA was 72-59 (.550), the NSIC went 52-82 (.388) and the GAC was 50-80 (.385).
In inter-conference play the MIAA was 12-7 against the NSIC and 15-10 against the GAC. Six of the MIAA's wins against the NSIC were by teams that did not make the MIAA Tournament, including four wins against NSIC teams that were regionally ranked last week.
