#11 Emporia State Hornets (34-9, 23-6 MIAA)
at
Washburn Ichabods (19-21, 11-18 MIAA)
Tuesday, April 25, 2017 at 4:00 p.m. • Falley Field • Topeka, Kan.
Series Record: ESU leads 172-74-1 Last Meeting: at ESU 16, WU 6 (4/18/17)
Radio: None Internet (Audio): None
Live Stats Complete Notes in pdf
Up Next: vs. Northwest Missouri • April 28, 2017 at 6:00 p.m.
Glennen Field/Trusler Sports Complex • Emporia, Kan.
TURNPIKE TUSSLE FOR A RECORD
The #11 Hornets travel to Topeka for the final game of their three game series with Washburn. Bob Fornelli will be going for his Emporia State record 558th career win.
LAST AT BAT
In a game that saw 34 hits and 26 runs, the #14 Hornets fell 14-12 to Lindenwood and saw their eight game winning streak come to an end. The first four innings saw 18 of the runs scored as Emporia State took an 11-7 lead after four innings. The Lions scored seven runs in the final five innings to get the win. Despite a ninth inning homer from Alex White, the Hornets could not make their 19th comeback win. Every Hornet starter had at least one hit on the day. Mason Brown was three for five and scored two runs. Wade Hanna hit two for five, scoring three runs with two RBI. White was two for five, with two runs, and two RBI on a home run and a single.
THE COACHES
Bob Fornelli is 557-238 in his 14th season at Emporia State and is 863-351 overall in his 21st year as a four year head coach. He is the fifth winningest active coach in NCAA Division II and is 14th in total victories. Fornelli is the winningest active MIAA coach. He has led Emporia State to two Division II World Series appearances in 11 trips to the NCAA Tournament. Fornelli has taken teams to the NCAA Tournament 16 times, and was the national runner-up in 2009 with Emporia State and in 2000 while at Ft. Hays State. He is 42-20 against the Ichabods.
Harley Douglas is 86-61 in his third year as head coach at Washburn. He is 4-9 against the Hornets.
ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 34-9 on the season, 23-6 in the MIAA and are ranked 11th in the nation. Although no individual is ranked in the top 20 nationally, the Hornets are sixth in the nation in scoring, and ninth in total runs scored. Levi Ashmore is second in the MIAA in runs scored and third in stolen bases. Mason Brown is fifth in the league in batting average and sixth in on base percentage. Emporia State's seven shutouts are the fifth most in the nation and the Hornets are seventh in Division II in walks allowed per nine innings. Seth Holman leads the MIAA in wins and is seventh in strikeouts. Nathan Whitcomb is third in the MIAA and 15th in the nation in saves. Emporia State is ranked seventh in the nation in double plays and fielding percentage.
SCOUTING THE ICHABODS
Washburn is 19-21 on the season, 11-18 in the MIAA and have not played since falling to the Hornets last week. The Ichabods are hitting .257 as a team and are third in the MIAA with 68 stolen bases. Riley Krane is fifth in the MIAA with 11 home runs and 47 RBI. Washburn is sixth in the MIAA with a staff ERA of 5.04 with one shutout.
THE SERIES
This is the 248th meeting between the two and Emporia State leads the all-time series 172-74-1 against Washburn.
LAST TIME AGAINST WASHBURN
The #14 Hornets run-ruled Washburn 16-6 in eight innings last Tuesday at Trusler.
ON DECK
The #11 Hornets return to Trusler to take on Northwest Missouri in the final three home games of the regular season. First pitch of the series is set for 6:00 p.m. on Friday.
HE'S A WINNER
Emporia State head baseball coach Bob Fornelli has 863 career wins and is 557-238 (.701) in his 14th season at Emporia State. Fornelli is tied with Dave Bingham, who was 557-223 (.714) in 14 years from 1974-87, for the most wins at Emporia State. The Hornets have made 11 trips to the NCAA Tournament in his first 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 and is the winningest active MIAA 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 fifth winningest active coach in NCAA Division II and ranks 14th in career victories with an 863-351 (.711) record in his 21st season as a head coach.
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-CSIC 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.
BEHIND AND AT THE PLATE
Catcher/DH Mason Brown (Jr./Littleton, Colo.) is fifth in the MIAA with a .393 batting average, ranks sixth with a .469 on base percentage and is seventh with 64 hits. He has 13 doubles, six home runs and 43 RBI on the year. He is batting .400 over the last ten games. He has thrown out nine runners trying to steal this year.
DH/catcher Taylor Sanagorski (Jr./Wichita, Kan.) is batting .269 with seven home runs, four doubles, a triple and 31 RBI. He is batting .447 with runners in scoring position on the year and has a team best 13 RBI over the last ten games. He has thrown out seven would be base stealers.
AROUND THE HORN
First baseman Kaden Shaffer (Jr./Ottawa, Kan.) is ninth in the MIAA with 41 runs scored and 26 walks. He is batting .342 with seven home runs, seven doubles, three triples and 40 RBI.
Second baseman Ryan McBroom (Sr./Wichita, Kan.) is seventh in the conference with .621 slugging percentage and is sixth with four triples. He is batting .345 on the year with seven home runs and 11 doubles with 42 RBI. He is hitting .393 with two outs.
Shortstop Levi Ashmore (Sr./Iola, Kan.) ranks second in the MIAA with 52 runs scored, is third with 19 stolen bases, and seventh with 27 walks. He is batting .333 with three home runs, 20 RBI and 13 doubles on the year. He has a .529 on base percentage when leading off an inning.
Third baseman Alex White (Sr./Colorado Springs, Colo.) is seventh in the MIAA with a .468 on base percentage. He is batting .367 with six doubles, 32 RBIÂ and 34 runs scored. He had a 19 game hitting streak snapped at Northeastern State, but has reached base safely in 26 straight games.
OUT IN THE FIELD
Outfielder Mack Gowing (Jr./Wichita, Kan.) is hitting .359 with six doubles, a triple, a home run and 29 RBI. He has six stolen bases and 34 runs scored. He has two outfield assists this year.
Outfielder BJ Dean (Sr./Pratt, Kan.) is eighth in the MIAA with ten home runs. He is batting .273 with six doubles, 32 RBI and 37 runs scored. He has five outfield assists.
Outfielder Wade Hanna (Sr./Shawnee, Kan.) is sixth in the MIAA in doubles. He is batting .294 with nine doubles, four triples, a home run, 25 RBI and 34 runs scored. He has three outfield assists this season.
IN A PINCH
Infielder Tucker Perkins (So./Belton, Mo.) is batting .313 in 16 pinch hit at bats. He is batting .306 on the season in 24 games with four starts. He is hitting .385 with runners on base and .412 with runners in scoring position.
Outfielder Jonny Hodges (Jr./DeSoto, Kan.) is the second most used pinch hitter for the Hornets with ten pinch hit at bats. He is batting .229 on the season with a .325 on base percentage in 26 games with eight starts. He has also been used as a pinch runner six times with a stolen base and run scored in that role.
Outfielder David Oropeza (Jr./Nogales, Ariz.) has been used as a pinch runner 12 times this year and has scored half the time he has been used in that role. He has four stolen bases as a pinch runner. He is three for five as a pinch hitter with three RBI as a pinch hitter. He is batting .333 in 23 games with one start.
TIMELY HITTING
Infielder/DH Daniel LaMunyon (Sr./Leawood, Kan.) has two late inning, game winning home runs on the season. He is seventh in the MIAA with 14 stolen bases. He is batting .256 on the year with 20 RBI, 22 runs and five home runs. He has played in 31 games with 20 starts.
Infielder Tate Kastens (Jr./Denver, Colo.) is batting .480 with runners on base and .450 with runners in scoring position. In 20 games with ten starts he is batting .346 with three home runs and 18 RBI.  Â
ON THE MOUND
Right-handed pitcher Seth Holman (Jr./Wichita, Kan.) leads the MIAA with eight wins, is third in the league with 1.88 walks per nine innings, fourth in the league with a 3.87 strikeout to walk ratio, is sixth with 71.2 innings, and ranks seventh with 58 strikeouts. He is 8-2 with a 3.64 ERA and 58 strikeouts with just 15 walks on the season. He has pitched into the sixth in nine of his 11 starts with one complete game shutout and two combined shutouts.
Right-handed pitcher Tanner Cairns (So./Wichita, Kan.) is eighth in the MIAA with a 3.31 ERA. He is 5-1 with 39 strikeouts in 12 appearances with nine starts. He has gone at least 5.0 innings in all nine of his starts with a complete game, three-hit shut out against Neb.-Kearney. He took a no-hitter into the sixth inning against Lindenwood.
Left-handed pitcher Jordan Plank (Sr./Wichita, Kan.) is 5-1 on the year with a 6.24 ERA and 41 strikeouts on the year.
Left-handed pitcher Nathan Gieber (Jr./Concordia, Kan.) is 2-0 in 16 appearances with eight starts. He has a 7.16 ERA and a 3.67 strikeout to walk ratio with 33 strikeouts and only nine walks.
Right-handed pitcher Matt Slauter (Sr./Olathe, Kan.) is 1-0 with a 3.38 ERA with a combined shutout in three starts and 12 appearances. He has 19 strikeouts and five walks in 18.2 innings pitched.
IN THE BULLPEN
Right-handed pitcher Nathan Whitcomb (Sr./Humboldt, Kan.) is ranked third in the MIAA and 15th in the nation with eight saves. He is 3-1 with a 1.09 ERA, 14 strikeouts and two walks in 24.2 innings pitched. His ERA is the lowest in the MIAA among pitchers with at least 10.0 innings pitched.
Right-handed pitcher Layne Downing (Jr./Hays, Kan.) is 3-4 with a 2.86 ERA in 18 appearances. He has 22 strikeouts in 34.2 innings while allowing ten walks. His 2.86 ERA is ninth in the MIAA among pitchers with at least 20.0 innings on the year.
Right-handed pitcher Trey Taylor (So./Paola, Kan.) is 2-0 with a 3.46 ERA in 12 relief appearances. He has been part of two combined shutouts this year.
Right-handed pitcher Jacob Tetuan (Jr./Topeka, Kan.) is 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA in 13 appearances. He has seen 15.0 innings this season with 14 strikeouts and only three walks. Opponents are batting .266 against him this year.
Right-handed pitcher Taylor Thompson (Jr./Cuba, Mo.) is 3-0 with a 4.74 ERA in 23 relief appearances. He has 21 strikeouts in 24.2 innings pitched with only four walks.
Left-handed pitcher Tyler Buss (Sr./Jay, Okla.) is 1-0 with a 7.98 ERA in ten games with two starts. Buss has 16 strikeouts in 14.2 innings pitched.
TRENDS
The Hornets are 20-1 when they score first & 14-2 when they score in the first inning.
The Hornets out-score their opponents 63-24 in the second inning.
The Hornets are 12-0 when they hold their opponents to two runs or less.
The Hornets are 13-1 when scoring at least ten runs.
The Hornets are 22-0 when leading after eight innings.
The Hornets are 5-2 when tied after seven innings.
The Hornets are 5-4 when trailing after six innings.
The Hornets are ranked seventh in the nation with a .974 fielding percentage
Five of Emporia State's nine losses are by one run.
The Hornets are batting a collective .308 in 65 pinch hit at bats with nine batters recording at least one pinch hit.
Three Hornets have had a hitting streak of at least 15 games with Alex White having a season high 19 game hitting streak.
WALKING OFF
The Hornets have trailed in the fourth inning or later in ten of their 19 comeback wins this season, with six walk-offs, two of which they trailed going into the bottom of the ninth. On February 18 Alex White had an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth of a 9-8 walk off win against Missouri S&T after trailing 8-6 through seven innings. In an extended game due to weather delay, Kaden Shaffer hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth for a 5-4 win against Missouri Southern after trailing 3-1 headed into the sixth inning. Against Newman on March 15, the Hornets trailed 6-2 after five innings before Daniel LaMunyon hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 12th inning for a 7-6 win. Against Neb.-Kearney on March 26, the Hornets came back from an 8-4 deficit going into the bottom of the seventh to win 9-8 with a walk-off single from Wade Hanna in the ninth inning. On April 7 Emporia State trailed 8-6 going into the bottom of the ninth against Central Missouri and scored three runs on one hit, winning 9-8 when Ryan McBroom scored on a wild pitch. Two days later the Hornets again trailed the Mules 8-6 going to the bottom of the ninth and won on Kaden Shaffer's RBI single with the bases loaded.
HISTORY
Emporia State advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the third straight year in the 2016 season and the 11th time in the last 13 seasons. The Hornets have finished second in MIAA regular season play for the past three seasons.
Under Coach Fornelli, Emporia State won the MIAA Tournament in 2014 and 2007 and claimed the regular season title in 2011, 2009, 2008 and 2006.
RECORD BOOKS
In his fourth and final season with the Hornets, Wade Hanna looks to make an impact on the career batting recordings. Hanna currently sits third all-time with 715 at-bats and 220 hits. He is fourth all-time with 166 career runs scored. He now is fifth with 42 doubles and 11 triples and ranks sixth in games played with 204. With his next game he will tie Bob Hines for the fifth most games played at Emporia State. He has 131 career RBI, needing ten more to break into the Emporia State top ten. Among active NCAA Division II players he ranks third in games played, 11th in at bats, 13th in runs, 20th in triples and 28th in total bases.
Nathan Whitcomb is eighth on the Emporia State single season saves list with eight while Taylor Thompson is ranked ninth with 23 relief appearances this season.
REGIONALLY SPEAKING
Emporia State was ranked third in the NCAA Central Region last year and was one of two MIAA teams in the regional tournament. The automatic qualifiers from the MIAA, Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and Great American Conference along with the next three highest ranked regional teams make up the NCAA Central Regional Tournament. The MIAA is the only conference among the three to have a winning record against non-conference opponents. The MIAA is 101-56-1 (.642) against outside competition while the Northern Sun is 52-69 (.430) and the GAC is 39-79-1 (.332) against outside foes. The MIAA is 11-4 (.733) against the Northern Sun and 26-13-1 (.663) against the GAC.
IN THE POLLS
There are several national rankings in NCAA Division II for baseball. Emporia State is ranked #11 in ABCA Collegiate Baseball Newspaper for the April 17 Poll. The Hornets are ranked fourth in the Perfect Game D2 Top 25, #10 in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Top 25, and #11 in the D2 Baseball News National Rankings. In two computer ratings systems, the Hornets are #7 in the Massey ratings and #9 in the HeroSports rankings.
