EMPORIA STATE BASEBALL FACES #24 ARK.-MONTICELLO IN NCAA TOURNAMENT

Emporia State Hornets (39-18, 27-12 MIAA)
vs. #24 Ark.-Monticello Boll Weevils (38-15, 21-9 GAC)
NCAA Central Regional Tournament
Series Record: First Meeting  Last Meeting: First Meeting
May 22, 2016 • 12:00 p.m. • Joe Faber Field • St. Cloud, Minn.
Radio: KFFX 104.9FM Internet Audio: kvoe.com
Internet Video: http://portal.stretchinternet.com/scsu/
Live Stats  • Complete Notes in pdf
Up Next: winner vs Minnesota State
May 22, 2016 • 4:00 p.m.

DO OR DIE TIME
Emporia State takes on Ark.-Monticello in an elimination game at the NCAA Central Regional.

LAST AT BAT
Tucker Perkins hit a two run home run in the top of the 12th and Jordan Plank tossed 6.0 innings of one hit relief as Emporia State eliminated top seeded St. Cloud State from the NCAA Central Regional. Levi Ashmore led off the 12th with a single and after Dalton Wheat flew out to right Perkins delivered the knock out blow with a home run to fight field for a 6-4 lead.  The Huskies got a one out walk to bring the tying run to the plate but after a fly out Plank closed out the game with a strikeout to advance the Hornets to Sunday. Perkins was four for seven with three RBI and two runs scored for the Hornets.  Plank worked the final 6.0 innings, giving up just one hit and four walk while striking out five to get the win.
 
THE COACHES
Bob Fornelli is 523-228 in his 13th season at Emporia State and is 829-341 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 21-21 in the NCAA Tournament. This is his first meeting with St. Cloud State.
John Harvey is 156-124 in his sixth year at Ark.-Monticello and 310-272 in 12 years as a head coach. He is 2-3 in the NCAA Tournament. This is his first meeting the Hornets.

ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 39-18 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 fielding percentage, fifth in doubles, sixth in runs, seventh in hits, tenth in scoring per game. Dalton Wheat has reached base safely in 29 straight games and is ranked 22nd in the nation in doubles. Evan Koehler is ranked third in the nation in home runs and seventh in RBI. The Hornets have used nine pitchers in the regional with Grant Bachura and Nathan Whitcomb the only pitchers that are on the active roster and have yet to pitch in the regional.

SCOUTING THE BOLL WEEVILS
Ark.-Monticello is 38-15 on the season, went 21-9 in the GAC, won their conference tournament, are the #4 seed in the regional and #24 in the ABCA Poll. They are hitting .310 as a team in the regional. Corey Wood is their leading hitter at .357 with 23 homers and 81 RBI. Kris Brown is 2-1 with a 5.22 ERA and is the only pitcher for the Weevils that has started more than one game and is yet to pitch in the regional.

THE SERIES
This will be the first meeting between the Hornets and Boll Weevils, both in the NCAA Tournament and all-time.

ON DECK
The winner will take on Minnesota State in the losers bracket final at approximately 4:00 p.m. on Sunday. The winner gets the right to take on Central Missouri on Monday morning in the regional championship game.

HE'S A WINNER
Emporia State head baseball coach Bob Fornelli has 829 career wins and is 523-228 (.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 829-341 (.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.

PUTTING UP RUNS
The Hornets lead the MIAA in six offensive categories with 496 runs scored, 655 hits, 131 doubles, a .330 batting average, a .520 slugging percentage, 450 RBI, and and a .972 fielding percentage, they are second in the league with 71 home runs, a .412 on base percentage and third with 21 triples and 85 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.
Dalton Wheat is second in the league with 21 doubles, ranks third with 87 hits, is fourth with 62 RBI, sixth with a .394 batting average, seventh with 18 stolen bases and a .472 on base percentage, and ninth with four triples. He has reached base safely in 29 straight games and had a 24 game hitting streak snapped in the MIAA Tournament. Evan Koehler is second in the MIAA and fourth in the nation with 22 home runs, is second in the MIAA and tenth in the nation with 73 RBI and is fourth in the league and ranks 24th nationally with a .729 slugging percentage. He leads the MIAA with 46 walks and ranks ninth with 60 runs scored. Wade Hanna is fifth in the MIAA with six triples. Daniel LaMunyon is fifth in the league with 17 doubles. Derek Francis ranks sixth in the MIAA with five sac flies.

SWING AND MISS STUFF
The Hornets are second in the MIAA with a 4.31 ERA, 449 total strike outs, a 2.49 strikeout to walk ratio, 3.33 walks per nine innings and a 1.44 WHIP.
Tyler Stubblefield is a semifinalist for the Brett Tomko Award as the top pitcher in NCAA Division II. He leads the MIAA with a 2.34 ERA and ten wins. He ranks second in the league with 101 strike outs, is third with 103.2 innings pitched while his opponents batting average of .228 ranks fifth 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, and is seventh with 80 strike outs. Matt Slauter has allowed an MIAA low ten 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 tenth in the league with six wins. Jordan Plank is ranked fifth in the MIAA with seven wins and is seventh in the league with 80 strikeouts.

AROUND THE HORN
First baseman Evan Koehler (Sr./Wichita, Kan.) is a two-time First-Team All-MIAA selection and was named second team All-Region by both the D2CCA and NCBWA. He leads the MIAA in walks and is second in home runs and RBI, is fourth in slugging percentage, and ranks ninth 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 .327 with 22 home runs and 73 RBI. During the MIAA and NCAA Tournaments he is hitting just .056 (1 for 18) with nine walks and 12 strikeouts.
Aaron Gile (Sr./Lawrence, Kan.) has played in 20 games with three starts this season. He was two for two in the win against St. Cloud State. He went one for three with two walks, a triple and three runs scored against Lindenwood in his last start on April 23.
Tucker Perkins (Fr.-RS/Cleveland, Mo.) has played second base lately after spending much of the season at designated hitter.  He is batting .378 with three home runs and 20 RBI in 41 games with 22 starts on the season. He was four for seven with three RBI, three runs and the game winning homer against St. Cloud State.
Ryan McBroom (Jr./Wichita, Kan.) has a .992 fielding percentage with just one error in 125 chances. He is batting .300 with four home runs and 26 RBI in 51 games this season with 28 starts.
Shortstop Levi Ashmore (Jr./Iola, Kan.) was named honorable mention All-MIAA. He is batting .297 with seven homers and 36 RBI in a team high 229 at bats. He has started all 57 games for Emporia State, with 56 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 is ranked fifth in the MIAA in doubles. He hit .438 with a team high seven RBI during the MIAA Tournament.  On the season he is batting .332 with five home runs, 36 RBI, 17 doubles and 14 stolen bases. He is a transfer from KCKCC.
Alex White (Jr./Colorado Springs, Colo.) is batting .310 with 19 RBI in 42 games with starts at both second and third base.

OUT IN THE FIELD
Rightfielder Dalton Wheat (Sr./Augusta, Kan.) was a first-team All-MIAA pick. He was a first-team D2CCA All-Region pick and earned second team honors from the NCBWA. He is batting .394 with seven home runs, 62 RBI, 60 runs and 18 stolen bases this season. He has eight outfield assists from right field this year. He is second in the league in doubles, ranks third in hits, fourth in RBI, sixth in batting average, seventh in stolen bases and on base percentage, and ninth in triples.  He has reached base safely in 29 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 174, is fifth with 559 career at bats 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 19 games in left field. He is batting .378 in 43 games and 23 total starts this season.  
Outfielder BJ Dean (Jr./Pratt, Kan.) started 39 games with 33 starts in left field. He is batting .317 with nine home runs and 35 RBI in 51 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 41 starts in 43 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 .266 with 19 RBI on the season. He is a transfer from Indiana State.
Braxon Byfield (Jr./Wichita, Kan.) has started 16 of the last 38 games at catcher. He is hitting .343 with 14 RBI and 13 runs scored in 28 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 .338 with six home runs and 42 RBI. He is a transfer from Old Dominion.

START ME UP
Left handed pitcher Tyler Stubblefield (Jr./Lufkin, Texas) is 10-1 with a league best 2.34 ERA. He was a first-team All-MIAA selection and a semifinalist for the Brett Tomko Award as the top pitcher in NCAA Division II. He was named second-team All-Region by the D2CCA and was honorable mention NCBWA All-Region. He leads the MIAA in ERA and wins, He ranks second in the league in strike outs, is third in innings pitched while his opponents batting average ranks fifth in the MIAA.
He has thrown at least 7.0 innings in 11 of his 14 starts. He has thrown back to back complete games. He had a four hit shutout with 11 strike outs against Minn.-Duluth in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. 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. He has thrown three collegiate complete games including a four hitter for Texas A&M when he 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 6-3 with a 4.24 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 2-1 with a 4.58 ERA with 24 strikeouts in his four 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 seventh with 80 strike outs, tenth in wins and 14th in the league in ERA.

WALK THE PLANK
Left handed pitcher Jordan Plank (Jr./Wichita, Kan.) was an honorable mention All-MIAA selection. He is 8-3 with a 4.00 EAR in 13 starts and 17 total appearances. He threw 6.0 shutout inning with just one hit and five strike outs against St. Cloud State. His eight wins rank fifth in the MIAA, he is seventh in the league with 80 strikeouts, and ranks 11th in ERA.

MAD DASH
Right handed pitcher Matt Slauter (Jr./Olathe, Kan.) has allowed an MIAA low ten 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 tenth 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 5.70 ERA. He started and went 4.1 innings against St. Cloud State giving up three runs on five hits with four strike outs. He has appeared in 12 games with nine 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 4.81 ERA in 18 appearances out of the bullpen.   He has 23 strike outs in 24.1 innings pitched.
Right handed pitcher Tevin Renkin (So./Little River, Kan.) is 1-0 with a 3.38 ERA in 16 games. He has 11 strike outs and five walks in 21.1 innings.
Right handed pitcher Trey Taylor (Fr.-RS/Paola, Kan.) is 2-0 with a 6.14 ERA in ten games.  He has 13 strike outs in 14.2 innings pitched.
Left handed pitcher Shane Davies (Sr./Kansas City, Mo.) is 0-1 with a 3.04 ERA in a team high 20 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 22-0 when scoring in the first inning.
Emporia State is 33-3 when leading after the sixth inning.
The Hornets are 32-1 when scoring at least six runs in a game.
Emporia State is 29-3 when scoring first.
In the last two years Emporia State has played in 13 post season elimination games with 11 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 fifth for the Hornets in career base hits with 174, is fifth in at bats with 559 and is tied with several players for tenth on the Emporia State single season list with six triples.

COMEBACK KIDS
Emporia State has 17 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 six times this season. They have outscored their opponents 10-1 in the sixth inning on during the regional this year.
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 is 15-8 against the NSIC and 16-11 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. 

EXTRA INNINGS
This will be the only matchup between teams in the NCAA Tournament whose mascots are insects