TOP SEEDED EMPORIA STATE OPENS NCAA REGIONAL WITH ARK.-MONTICELLO

#13 Emporia State Hornets (41-11, 29-6 MIAA)
vs. Ark.-Monticello Boll Weevils (32-19, 22-11 GAC)
NCAA Division II Baseball Central Regional Tournament
Thursday, May 18, 2017 at 4:30 p.m. • Glennen Field/Trusler Sports Complex • Emporia, Kan.
Series Record: UAM Leads 1-0 Last Meeting: UAM 18, ESU 7 (May 12, 2017)
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Live Stats  Complete Notes in pdf
Up Next: LWU or SAU • May 19, 2017 at 10 a.m. or 4:30 p.m. • Glennen Field • Emporia, Kan.

MAKE HISTORY
The #13 Hornets open up the 2017 Central Regional Tournament looking to become the first home team to win the regional since Minnesota State in 2013. Emporia State begins the double elimination tourney against Ark.-Monticello, the team that ended their season at last year's regional.

LAST AT BAT
Emporia State was held to just four hits in a 4-1 loss to Missouri Southern and were eliminated from the MIAA Tournament on Saturday in Joplin, Mo. The Lions scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning and added a run in the third to take a 4-0 lead. BJ Dean got a two out single in the top of the fifth inning and scored on Taylor Sanagorski's double to get Emporia State on the board.  Mason Brown had two of the Hornets four hits as Emporia State was held to just two for 11 at the plate with runners on base.

THE COACHES
Bob Fornelli is 564-240 in his 14th season at Emporia State and is 870-353 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 12 trips to the NCAA Tournament. Fornelli has taken teams to the NCAA Tournament 17 times, and was the national runner-up in 2009 with Emporia State and in 2000 while at Ft. Hays State. He is 20-22 in the NCAA Tournament with the Hornets. He is 0-1 against Ark.-Monticello.
John Harvey is 190-144 in his seventh year at Ark.-Monticello and 344-292 in 13 years as a head coach. He is 4-4 in the NCAA Tournament. He is 1-0 against the Hornets.

ABOUT THE HORNETS
MIAA Champion Emporia State is 41-11 on the season, 26-6 in the MIAA, ranked  #1 in the Central Region and 13th in the nation. The Hornets are fourth in the nation in runs scored. Levi Ashmore is second in the MIAA and 20th in the nation in runs scored. Emporia State's seven shutouts are the 11th most in the nation. Seth Holman leads the MIAA and is ninth in the nation with 10 wins. Nathan Whitcomb is fourth in the MIAA and 13th in the nation in saves. Emporia State is ranked fifth in the nation in fielding percentage and sixth in double plays turned.

SCOUTING THE WEEVILS
Southern Arkansas is 32-19 overall, went 22-11 in the GAC and won the GAC Tournament.  They have won six straight games. The Weevils have a .284 team batting average and a 4.89 team ERA. Their .975 fielding percentage is ranked sixth in the nation. Brady Weiss leads the nation in walks while Nick Piraino leads the nation in getting hit by pitch.

THE SERIES
This is just the second meeting between Emporia State and Ark.-Monticello with the Boll Weevils winning last year's meeting in the NCAA Tournament.

LAST TIME AGAINST UAM
Playing their fourth game in four days and the day after a 12 inning win over St. cloud State, Emporia State gave up ten runs in the last three innings of an 18-7 loss to #24 Ark.-Monticello in the NCAA Central Region Tournament in St. Cloud, Minn.

ON DECK
Emporia State will play either Lindenwood or Southern Ark. on Friday. The winners play at 4:30 p.m. with the losers meeting at 10:00 a.m.

HE'S A WINNER
Emporia State head baseball coach Bob Fornelli was named MIAA Coach of the Year for the fourth time in his career this season. He has 870 career wins and is 564-240 (.701) in his 14th season at Emporia State. His 564 victories are the most wins by a coach in Emporia State history. The Hornets have made 12 trips to the NCAA Tournament in his 14 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 17 of his 21 years as a collegiate coach and is the winningest active MIAA coach. He is 20-22 in the NCAA Tournament with the Hornets and 31-32 overall in NCAA tourney play.
Fornelli 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 870-353 (.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. A 1991 graduate of Emporia State, 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.) was named second-team All-MIAA and is a Gold Glove winner at catcher. He is fourth in the MIAA with 18 doubles, ranks sixth with a .383 batting average, seventh with 75 base hits and is tenth with a .455 on base percentage and 48 runs scored. He has six home runs, and 48 RBI on the year. He has thrown out 11 runners trying to steal this year. He is batting .437 with runners in scoring position.
DH/catcher Taylor Sanagorski (Jr./Wichita, Kan.) is batting .264 with seven home runs, seven doubles, a triple and 37 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.) was named second-team All-MIAA and was the Gold Glove winner at first base. He is seventh in the MIAA with 49 runs and ranks tenth with 32 walks. He is batting .331 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.) was a first-team All-MIAA pick. He is seventh in the conference with four triples. He is batting .348 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.) was named first-team All-MIAA. He is second in the MIAA and ranks 20th in the nation with 62 runs scored, is ranked fourth in the league with 20 stolen bases, and is sixth with a .462 on base percentage and 34 walks. He is batting .346 with three home runs, 29 RBI and 15 doubles on the year. He has a .471 on base percentage when leading off an inning.
Third baseman Alex White (Sr./Colorado Springs, Colo.) was second-team All-MIAA and the Gold Glove winner at first base. He is batting .360 with seven doubles, two home runs, 44 RBI and 43 runs scored. He is hitting .450 with two outs, .464 with runners in scoring position and .438 with runners on base. He had reached base safely in 32 straight games before being kept off the bases by Central Missouri last night. That included a 19 game hitting streak earlier this year.

OUT IN THE FIELD
Outfielder Mack Gowing (Jr./Wichita, Kan.) was named second-team All-MIAA. He is hitting .353 with eight doubles, two triples, two home runs and 36 RBI. He has seven stolen bases and 38 runs scored. He has a .453 on base percentage when leading off an inning. He has three outfield assists this year.
Outfielder Wade Hanna (Sr./Shawnee, Kan.) was an honorable mention All-MIAA pick. He leads the MIAA with six triples. He is batting .287 with 11 doubles, a home run, 28 RBI and 41 runs scored. He is hitting .357 with two outs. He has scored ten runs over the last ten games. He has four outfield assists this season.
Outfielder BJ Dean (Sr./Pratt, Kan.) was named honorable mention All-MIAA. He is ninth in the MIAA with 11 home runs. He is batting .263 with six doubles, 39 RBI and 44 runs scored. He has five outfield assists.

IN A PINCH
Infielder/DH Tucker Perkins (So./Belton, Mo.) is batting .311 on the season in 29 games with six starts. He has a team high 18 pinch hit at bats with five hits. He is hitting .368 with runners in scoring position. He was named to the Regional All-Tournament team at second base last year after hitting .357 in the Hornets four games in St. Cloud, Minn.
Outfielder Jonny Hodges (Jr./DeSoto, Kan.) is the second most used pinch hitter for the Hornets with 11 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 .271 with five home runs, 22 RBI, and 25 runs in 35 games with 24 starts this year.
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.) was named second-team All-MIAA. He leads the MIAA and ranks ninth in the nation with ten wins, is fourth in the league with 90.2 innings pitched, and seventh with 69 strikeouts. He is 10-2 on the season with a 4.07 ERA  while opponents bat just .273 against him. He has a 3.63 strike out to walk ratio to rank fourth in the MIAA and allows just 2.0 walks per nine innings to rank fifth in the league. He is allowing just a .229 batting average to his opponents with two outs. He has pitched into the sixth in 12 of his 14 starts with one complete game shutout and two combined shutouts.
Right-handed pitcher Tanner Cairns (So./Wichita, Kan.) was a third-team All-MIAA pick. He is second in the MIAA with eight wins, ranks fifth with a 2.90 ERA, and tenth with 83.2 innings pitched. He is 8-1 with 43 strikeouts in 15 appearances with 12 starts. He has gone at least 5.0 innings in all 12 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 6-2 on the year with a 6.00 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 57.0 innings pitched on the year. He has started all 12 games he has appeared in this season. He had won six straight decisions before falling in the MIAA tournament.
Left-handed pitcher Nathan Gieber (Jr./Concordia, Kan.) is 2-0 in 17 appearances with eight starts. He has a 7.20 ERA and a 3.77 strikeout to walk ratio with 34 strikeouts and only nine walks in 45.0 innings.
Right-handed pitcher Matt Slauter (Sr./Olathe, Kan.) is 1-0 with a 4.63 ERA and one save. He has a combined shutout in four starts and 143 appearances. He has 22 strikeouts and six walks in 23.1 innings pitched.

IN THE BULLPEN
Right-handed pitcher Nathan Whitcomb (Sr./Humboldt, Kan.) was named honorable mention All-MIAA. He is fourth in the MIAA and 13th in the nation with ten saves. He is 4-1 with a 1.42 ERA on the season. He has 18 strikeouts and six walks in 31.2 innings pitched. He has given up five runs and 24 hits in 24 appearances on the year. Opponents are batting just .207 against him on the season.
Right-handed pitcher Jacob Tetuan (Jr./Topeka, Kan.) is 1-0 with a 2.84 ERA in 16 appearances. He has pitched 19.0 innings this season with 18 strikeouts and only three walks. Opponents are batting .224 against him this year.
Right-handed pitcher Layne Downing (Jr./Hays, Kan.) is 3-4 with a 2.89 ERA in 21 appearances. He has 23 strikeouts in 37.1 innings while allowing 16 walks.
Right-handed pitcher Trey Taylor (So./Paola, Kan.) is 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA in 16 relief appearances. He has been  part of two combined shutouts this year.
Right-handed pitcher Taylor Thompson (Jr./Cuba, Mo.) is 3-1 with a 4.20 ERA in 26 relief appearances. He has 23 strikeouts in 30.0 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 26-2 when they score first & 18-3 when they score in the first inning.
The Hornets out-score their opponents 73-24 in the second inning.
The Hornets are 14-1 when they hold their opponents to two runs or less.
The Hornets are 19-1 when scoring at least ten runs.
The Hornets are 25-0 when leading after eight innings.
The Hornets are 5-3 when tied after seven innings.
The Hornets are 6-5 when trailing after six innings.
The Hornets are fourth in the nation with 474 runs scored.
Six of Emporia State's 11 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 is ranked tenth on the Emporia State single season list with six triples this year. He is third all-time with 728 career at-bats and 223 hits. He is fourth all-time with 12 triples and 213 games played, is fifth with 171 career runs scored and ranked sixth with 43 doubles. Among active NCAA Division II players he ranks third in games played, ninth in triples, 12th in at bats and runs, 22nd in hit by pitch, 30th in total bases, and 31st in hits.
Nathan Whitcomb is sixth on the Emporia State single season saves list with ten and relief appearances with 24.  Taylor Thompson is ranked fifth with 26 relief appearances this season and tenth with 26 total appearances. Seth Holman will move into a tie for fifth on single season starts with his next start.

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 has advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth straight year and the 12th time in the last 14 seasons. The Hornets had finished second in MIAA regular season play for three straight seasons before winning their fifth regular season championship this year.
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.
This is the fourth time the Hornets have hosted a regional tournament and the third time under Fornelli.  Emporia State hosted the 1993 Central Regional, the 2006 Central Regional and the 2008 Central Regional.  The Hornets are 7-4 all-time at home in Regional play with a 6-2 record under Fornelli.

REGIONALLY SPEAKING
Emporia State are the top seed in the Central Regional and are one of four MIAA teams in the tournament. The Hornets are 5-4 against other teams in other teams in the Central Regional poll and went 7-5 against teams that made the NCAA Tournament 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 #13 in ABCA Collegiate Baseball Newspaper for the May 15 Poll. The Hornets are ranked 12th in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Top 25 and #15 in the D2 Baseball News National Rankings. In two computer ratings systems, the Hornets are #7 in the Massey ratings and #5 in the HeroSports rankings.