EMPORIA STATE TO OPEN MIAA TOURNAMENT WITH MISSOURI SOUTHERN

#11 Emporia State Hornets (40-9, 29-6 MIAA)
at Missouri Southern Lions (26-24, 18-18 MIAA)
Thursday, May 11, 2017 at 4:00 p.m. • Warren Turner Field • Joplin, Mo.
Series Record: ESU leads 63-30 Last Meeting: MSSU 9, at ESU 8 (11 innings) (3/12/17)
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Live Stats  Complete Notes in pdf
Up Next: vs. Central Missouri or Central Oklahoma • May 12, 2017 at 12:30 p.m. or 7:30 p.m.
Warren Turner Field • Joplin, Mo.

TOURNEY TIME
The top seeded Hornets begin the MIAA Tournament against the host school and number eight seed Missouri Southern.

LAST AT BAT
Emporia State ended the regular season with a three game sweep of Southwest Baptist, picking up run rule victories in the final two games. The Bearcats started the series by jumping on top 3-0 in the first inning on Friday and held the Hornets scoreless through three innings.  Emporia State would then outscore SBU 38-11 over the final 20 innings of the series.  Mack Gowing gave the Hornets the lead in the first game with a three run homer in the fifth innings as Emporia State would win 11-9.  The Hornets never trailed in a 12-1 win in game two.  Emporia State rested six starters on Sunday and trailed 3-2 after five innings before erupting for a 15-4 win in the series finale.

THE COACHES
Bob Fornelli is 563-238 in his 14th season at Emporia State and is 869-351 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. He has more wins than any other Emporia State coach and 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 32-25 in the MIAA Tournament. He is 37-14 against the Lions with a 2-1 record in MIAA Tournament play.
Bryce Darnell has a careeer record of 251-202 in his tenth season at Missouri Southern. He is 13-25 against the Hornets.

ABOUT THE HORNETS
MIAA Champion Emporia State is 40-9 on the season, 26-6 in the MIAA, ranked  #1 in the Central Region and 11th in the nation. Although no individual is ranked in the top 10 nationally, the Hornets lead the nation in runs scored. Levi Ashmore leads the MIAA and is 13th in the nation in runs scored. Emporia State's seven shutouts are the sixth most in the nation. Seth Holman leads the MIAA and is fourth in the nation with 10 wins. Nathan Whitcomb is fourth in the MIAA and 17th in the nation in saves. Emporia State is ranked sixth in the nation in fielding percentage and fourth in double plays turned.

SCOUTING THE LIONS
Missouri Southern is 26-24 overall and 18-18 in the MIAA.  They lead the nation with 124 doubles and lead the MIAA with 75 home runs. Four Lions have at least ten homers.  They are eighth in the league with a 5.89 ERA and rank third with a .969 fielding percentage.

THE SERIES
Emporia State leads the all-time series 63-30 against Missouri Southern and has won four of five MIAA Tournament games.

LAST TIME AGAINST MSSU
The #13 Hornets won two games of the series against Mo. Southern at Trusler. Emporia State won 2-0 on a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth in game one. Kaden Shaffer hit a walk-off home run in the ninth for the Hornets in a 4-3 win in game two. Emporia State fell 9-8 in 11 innings in game three.

ON DECK
The Hornets will play either Central Oklahoma or Central Missouri on Friday. The winners meet at 7:30 p.m. while the losers will play at 12:30 p.m.

HE'S A WINNER
Emporia State head baseball coach Bob Fornelli has 869 career wins and is 563-238 (.703) in his 14th season at Emporia State. His 563 victories are the most wins by a coach in Emporia State history. 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 869-351 (.712) 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 .389 batting average, ranks sixth with 72 hits and 17 doubles, and is eighth with a .461 on base percentage. He has six home runs, 47 RBI and 46 runs scored on the year. He has thrown out ten runners trying to steal this year. He is batting .443 with runners in scoring position. In the last ten games he is batting .439 with six doubles and 11 RBI.
DH/catcher Taylor Sanagorski (Jr./Wichita, Kan.) is batting .260 with seven home runs, six doubles, a triple and 36 RBI. He is batting .413 with runners in scoring position on the year. He has thrown out seven would be base stealers.

AROUND THE HORN
First baseman Kaden Shaffer (Jr./Ottawa, Kan.) is seventh in the MIAA with a .462 on base percentage and 32 walks and is eighth with 48 runs scored. He is batting .347 with eight home runs, nine doubles, three triples and 46 RBI. He has 13 stolen bases in 15 attempts this season. He has hit grand slams against Pittsburg State and Southwest Baptist this season.
Second baseman Ryan McBroom (Sr./Wichita, Kan.) is seventh in the conference with four triples. He is batting .349 on the year with eight home runs and 13 doubles with 48 RBI. He has a team high 22 two out RBI and is hitting .391 with two outs.
Shortstop Levi Ashmore (Sr./Iola, Kan.) leads the MIAA and ranks 13th in the nation with 62 runs scored, is ranked third in the league with 20 stolen bases, fourth with a .468 on base percentage, and fifth with 34 walks. He is batting .356 with three home runs, 30 RBI and 15 doubles on the year. He has a .517 on base percentage when leading off an inning. Over the last ten games he is batting .485 with 14 RBI, 19 runs scored and a .630 on base percentage.
Third baseman Alex White (Sr./Colorado Springs, Colo.) is fifth in the MIAA with a .466 on base percentage and eighth with a .377 batting average. He has seven doubles, two home runs, 44 RBI and 42 runs scored. He is hitting .474 with two outs, .481 with runners in scoring position and .453 with runners on base. He has reached base safely in 31 straight games that included a 19 game hitting streak earlier this year. In the last ten games he is batting .429 with two doubles, a triple, two home runs and 18 RBI.

OUT IN THE FIELD
Outfielder Mack Gowing (Jr./Wichita, Kan.) is hitting .360 with eight doubles, a triple, two home runs and 35 RBI. He has seven stolen bases and 37 runs scored. He is batting .432 over the last ten games and has a .408 average with two outs this year. He has two outfield assists this year.
Outfielder Wade Hanna (Sr./Shawnee, Kan.) is third in the MIAA with five triples. He is batting .299 with 11 doubles, a home run, 26 RBI and 41 runs scored. He is batting .367 with 12 runs scored during his current eight game hitting streak. He has four outfield assists this season.
Outfielder BJ Dean (Sr./Pratt, Kan.) is ninth in the MIAA with 11 home runs. He is batting .265 with six doubles, 38 RBI and 43 runs scored. He has five outfield assists.

IN A PINCH
Infielder/DH Tucker Perkins (So./Belton, Mo.) is batting .341 on the season in 27 games with five starts. He is batting .294 in 17 pinch hit at bats. He is hitting .370 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 .263 on the season with a .364 on base percentage in 29 games with eight starts. He has also been used as a pinch runner seven times with a stolen base and two runs scored in that role this year. He is a career .357 hitter with 79 hits in 221 at bats during 108 games.
Outfielder David Oropeza (Jr./Nogales, Ariz.) has been used as a pinch runner 12 times this year with six runs and four stolen bases in that role. He is batting .429 with three RBI in seven pinch hit appearances. He is batting .273 in 25 games overall with one start.

TIMELY HITTING
Infielder/DH Daniel LaMunyon (Sr./Leawood, Kan.) has two late inning, game winning home runs on the season -a walk off solo shot against Newman in the 12th on March 15 and a three run shot at Ft. Hays State on March 18. He is seventh in the MIAA with 15 stolen bases. He is batting .280 with five home runs, 22 RBI, and 25 runs in 34 games with 23 starts this year. He hit .438 in last year's MIAA Tournament.
Infielder Tate Kastens (Jr./Denver, Colo.) is batting .464 with runners on base and .455 with runners in scoring position. In 22 games with 11 starts he is batting .357 with four home runs and 20 RBI.    

DEPTH IN THE DUGOUT
Infielder/pitcher Zac Shaw (Sr./Bates City, Mo.) has played in 16 games this year. He is batting .389 in 13 games with four starts at shortstop and has pitched in three games. He was three for three with two RBI, two runs, and two walks in his last start against Southwest Baptist. He threw a scoreless inning in relief at Ft. Hays State on March 17.
Outfielder Trevor Turner (Jr./Hutchinson, Kan.) has appeared in 14 games with fives starts this season.  He is batting .259 with six runs scored. He started and led off against Southwest Baptist, scoring the Hornets first run in the first and driving in a run in the fourth to tie the game.
First baseman Jack Wilson (So./Omaha, Neb.) has played in 12 games with one start this year.  He has a .353 on base percentage with four walks and two hits in 17 plate appearances.

ON THE MOUND
Right-handed pitcher Seth Holman (Jr./Wichita, Kan.) leads the MIAA and ranks fourth in the nation with ten wins, is fifth in the league with 84.0 innings pitched, and seventh with 69 strikeouts. He is 10-2 on the season with a 4.29 ERA  while opponents bat just .277 against him. He has a 3.63 strike out to walk ratio and allows just 2.04 walks per nine innings to rank fourth in the MIAA in both categories. He is allowing just a .240 batting average to his opponents with two outs. He has pitched into the sixth in 11 of his 13 starts with one complete game shutout and two combined shutouts.
Right-handed pitcher Tanner Cairns (So./Wichita, Kan.) is fifth in the MIAA with seven wins and a 2.99 ERA, seventh with 78.1 innings pitched. He is 7-1 with 41 strikeouts in 14 appearances with 11 starts. He has gone at least 5.0 innings in all 11 of his starts with two complete games, including a three-hit shut out against Neb.-Kearney. He took a no-hitter into the sixth inning against Lindenwood and a shut out going into the seventh at Southwest Baptist. Only two of six base runners have successfully stolen on him this year.
Left-handed pitcher Jordan Plank (Sr./Wichita, Kan.) is 6-1 on the year with a 6.17 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 54.0 innings pitched on the year. He has started all 11 games he has appeared in this season. He has won six straight decisions.
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 in 44.0 innings.
Right-handed pitcher Matt Slauter (Sr./Olathe, Kan.) is 1-0 with a 5.06 ERA with a combined shutout in four starts and 13 appearances. He has 22 strikeouts and six walks in 21.1 innings pitched.

IN THE BULLPEN
Right-handed pitcher Nathan Whitcomb (Sr./Humboldt, Kan.) is ranked fourth in the MIAA and 17th in the nation with nine saves. He is 4-1 with a 1.50 ERA on the season. He has 17 strikeouts and four walks in 30.0 innings pitched. He has given up five runs and 24 hits in 23 appearances on the year. Opponents are batting just .216 against him on the season.
Right-handed pitcher Layne Downing (Jr./Hays, Kan.) is 3-4 with a 3.06 ERA in 20 appearances. He has 23 strikeouts in 35.1 innings while allowing 16 walks.
Right-handed pitcher Trey Taylor (So./Paola, Kan.) is 2-0 with a 3.07 ERA in 15 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 3.18 ERA in 15 appearances. He has pitched 17.0 innings this season with 16 strikeouts and only three walks. Opponents are batting .243 against him this year.
Right-handed pitcher Taylor Thompson (Jr./Cuba, Mo.) is 3-0 with a 4.18 ERA in 25 relief appearances. He has 23 strikeouts in 28.0 innings pitched with only four walks.
Left-handed pitcher Tyler Buss (Sr./Jay, Okla.) is 1-0 with a 7.79 ERA in 12 games with two starts. He has 19 strikeouts in 17.1 innings pitched.

BALANCED ATTACK
The Hornets have four players with at least 40 RBI and seven that have scored at least 40 runs on the year.  It is the first time that has happened for Emporia State since the 2009 season when six players each had 40 RBI and seven scored 40 runs in 63 games as the Hornets advanced to the national championship game that season.
Eleven different Hornets have scored at least ten runs and have at least 20 RBI. All 17 position players have scored at least three runs on the season and 16 of the 17 have driven in a run.
Eleven pitchers have recorded at least one win on the season and have thrown at least 14.0 innings.  Every pitcher that has thrown at least ten innings has a positive strikeout to walk ratio.  
 
TRENDS
The Hornets are 25-1 when they score first & 18-2 when they score in the first inning.
The Hornets out-score their opponents 71-24 in the second inning.
The Hornets are 13-0 when they hold their opponents to two runs or less.
The Hornets are 19-1 when scoring at least ten runs.
The Hornets are 24-0 when leading after eight innings.
The Hornets are 5-2 when tied after seven innings.
The Hornets are 6-4 when trailing after six innings.
The Hornets lead the nation in runs scored with 468 on the season.
The Hornets are fourth in the nation with 49 double plays turned.
Five of Emporia State's nine losses are by one run.
Three Hornets have had a hitting streak of at least 15 games with Alex White having a season high 19 game hitting streak.

RECORD BOOKS
Wade Hanna currently sits third all-time with 718 at-bats and 222 hits. He is fourth all-time with 12 triples, is fifth with 171 career runs scored and 210 games played and ranked sixth with 43 doubles. Among active NCAA Division II players he ranks third in games played, tenth in at bats, 11th in runs, 14th in triples, 20th in hit by pitch, 28th in hits, and 30th in total bases.
Nathan Whitcomb is seventh on the Emporia State single season saves list with nine and ranks tenth in relief appearances with ten.  Taylor Thompson is ranked fifth with 25 relief appearances this season and tenth with 25 total appearances.

WALKING OFF
The Hornets have trailed in the fourth inning or later in 13 of their 22 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. It wasn't a walk off but the Hornets trailed 7-5 with two outs in the top of the ninth at Washburn before rallying for a 13-7 win in ten innings.

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 2017, 2011, 2009, 2008 and 2006.

REGIONALLY SPEAKING
Emporia State are ranked first in the NCAA Central Region and are one of six MIAA teams in the top ten of this week's regional poll. The Hornets are currently 8-3 against other teams in this week's Central Regional poll and have a 12-5 record against all teams that are ranked in a regional poll this year.
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 May 8 Poll. The Hornets are ranked fourth in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Top 25 and Perfect Game  D2 Top 25, and #9 in the D2 Baseball News National Rankings. In two computer ratings systems, the Hornets are #4 in the Massey ratings and #5 in the HeroSports rankings.