#12 EMPORIA STATE BASEBALL WRAPS UP REGULAR SEASON AT SBU

#12 Emporia State Hornets (37-9, 26-6 MIAA)
at Southwest Baptist Bearcats (30-16, 20-13 MIAA)
Friday, May 5, 2017 at 3:00 p.m. • Dodson Field • Bolivar, Mo.
Friday, May 6, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. • Dodson Field • Bolivar, Mo.
Friday, May 7, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. • Dodson Field • Bolivar, Mo.
Series Record: ESU leads 55-13 Last Meeting: at ESU 14, SBU 8 (5/7/16)
Radio: None Internet (Audio): None
Live Stats  Complete Notes in pdf
Up Next: at MIAA Tourney • May 11, 2017 at 4:00 p.m. • Warren Turner Field • Joplin, Mo.

INTO MAY
The #12 Hornets travel to Bolivar, Mo. for the final weekend of regular season action and a key regional series against Southwest Baptist.

LAST AT BAT
The #11 Emporia State baseball team swept Northwest Missouri on Friday and in the process clinched the MIAA regular season championship. The Hornets led 9-0 after three innings as BJ Dean hit a three run home run and Kaden Shaffer had a two run double in the third inning of the 10-4 win in game one. Seth Holman had seven strikeouts in seven innings while Taylor Thompson and Jacob Tetuan each pitched a scoreless frame. In the nightcap Levi Ashmore was two for three with three RBI and three runs scored while Ryan McBroom went three for five with three RBI and two runs scored in a 15-5 run rule win by the Hornets.

THE COACHES
Bob Fornelli is 560-238 in his 14th season at Emporia State and is 866-351 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 34-8 against the Bearcats.
Chris Martin is 143-150-1 in his sixth season as head coach of Southwest Baptist. He is 5-8 against the Hornets.

ABOUT THE HORNETS
MIAA Champion Emporia State is 37-9 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 are fourth in the nation in scoring and sixth in total runs scored. Levi Ashmore leads the MIAA and is 11th in the nation in runs scored. Emporia State's seven shutouts are the fifth most in the nation. Seth Holman leads the MIAA and is 12th in the nation in wins. Nathan Whitcomb is third in the MIAA and 17th in the nation in saves. Emporia State is ranked fourth in the nation in fielding percentage.

SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
Southwest Baptist is 30-16, 20-13 in the MIAA and ranked seventh in the region.  They are leading the MIAA in batting with a .340 average and a .423 on base percentage. Hunter Hisky leads the league in hits, doubles and RBI while ranking third with a .407 batting average. They are tenth in the MIAA with a 6.29 ERA and rank 11th with a .958 fielding percentage.

THE SERIES
Emporia State leads the all-time series 55-13 against Southwest Baptist.

LAST TIME AGAINST SBU
Emporia State pounded out 17 hits on the way to a 14-8 win over Southwest Baptist on Senior Night at Trusler.  For the third straight game the Bearcats scored first, but the Hornets used a six run fourth inning to take the lead. Dalton Wheat was four of six with six RBI.

ON DECK
The #12 Hornets will open MIAA tournament play at 4:00 p.m on Thursday, May 11 in Joplin, Mo.

HE'S A WINNER
Emporia State head baseball coach Bob Fornelli has 866 career wins and is 560-238 (.702) in his 14th season at Emporia State. His 560 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 866-351 (.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 sixth in the MIAA with a .390 batting average and a .462 on base percentage, is ranked seventh with 69 hits, and eighth with 16 doubles. He has six home runs and 46 RBI on the year. He has thrown out ten runners trying to steal this year. He is batting .426 with runners in scoring position.
DH/catcher Taylor Sanagorski (Jr./Wichita, Kan.) is batting .257 with seven home runs, five doubles, a triple and 34 RBI. He is batting .409 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 ninth in the MIAA with 28 walks. He is batting .345 with seven home runs, eight doubles, three triples and 42 RBI. He has 13 stolen bases in 15 attempts this season.
Second baseman Ryan McBroom (Sr./Wichita, Kan.) is seventh in the conference with four triples. He is batting .348 on the year with eight home runs and 11 doubles with 46 RBI. He has a team high 22 two out RBI and is hitting .397 with two outs.
Shortstop Levi Ashmore (Sr./Iola, Kan.) leads the MIAA and ranks 11th in the nation with 60 runs scored, is ranked third in the league with a .469 on base percentage, and fourth with 33 walks and 19 stolen bases. He is batting .355 with three home runs, 27 RBI and 15 doubles on the year. He has a .536 on base percentage when leading off an inning.
Third baseman Alex White (Sr./Colorado Springs, Colo.) is sixth in the MIAA with a .462 on base percentage and eighth with a .371 batting average. He has six doubles, 39 RBI  and 39 runs scored. He is hitting .486 with two outs, .471 with runners in scoring position and .44 with runners on base. He had a 19 game hitting streak snapped at Northeastern State, but has reached base safely in 29 straight games.

OUT IN THE FIELD
Outfielder Mack Gowing (Jr./Wichita, Kan.) is hitting .362 with eight doubles, a triple, a home run and 32 RBI. He has seven stolen bases and 35 runs scored. He is batting .390 in his 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 .297 with ten doubles, a home run, 25 RBI and 39 runs scored. He has three outfield assists this season.
Outfielder BJ Dean (Sr./Pratt, Kan.) is eighth in the MIAA with 11 home runs. He is batting .265 with six doubles, 36 RBI and 40 runs scored. He has five outfield assists.

IN A PINCH
Infielder/DH Tucker Perkins (So./Belton, Mo.) is batting .294 in 17 pinch hit at bats. He is batting .325 on the season in 26 games with five starts. 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 .229 on the season with a .341 on base percentage in 28 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 six with three RBI as a pinch hitter. He is batting .300 in 24 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.    

ON THE MOUND
Right-handed pitcher Seth Holman (Jr./Wichita, Kan.) leads the MIAA with nine wins, is fourth in the league with 78.2 innings pitched, fifth with 65 strikeouts, seventh with a 3.78 ERA and ninth with a .266 opponents batting average. He is 9-2 on the season and has a 3.61 strike out to walk ratio that ranks third in the MIAA. He is allowing just a .229 batting average to his opponents with two outs. He has pitched into the sixth in ten of his 12 starts with one complete game shutout and two combined shutouts.
Right-handed pitcher Tanner Cairns (So./Wichita, Kan.) is fourth in the MIAA with a 3.15 ERA, is fifth in wins with six, ranks eighth with a .264 opponents batting average and ninth with 71.1 innings pitched. He is 6-1 with 41 strikeouts in 13 appearances with ten starts. He has gone at least 5.0 innings in all ten 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 in 49.0 innings pitched on the year. He has started all ten games he has appeared in this season.
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 third in the MIAA and 17th in the nation with eight saves. He is 4-1 with a 0.98 ERA on the season. He has 15 strikeouts and three walks in 27.2 innings pitched. He has given up three runs and 20 hits in 22 appearances on the year.
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.
Right-handed pitcher Trey Taylor (So./Paola, Kan.) is 2-0 with a 3.21 ERA in 14 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 3.38 ERA in 14 appearances. He has seen 16.0 innings this season with 15 strikeouts and only three walks. Opponents are batting .254 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 8.27 ERA in 11 games with two starts. Buss has 19 strikeouts in 16.1 innings pitched.

TRENDS
The Hornets are 23-1 when they score first & 16-2 when they score in the first inning.
The Hornets out-score their opponents 66-24 in the second inning.
The Hornets are 12-0 when they hold their opponents to two runs or less.
The Hornets are 16-1 when scoring at least ten runs.
The Hornets are 23-0 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 are ranked fourth in the nation with a .976 fielding percentage
Five of Emporia State's nine losses are by one run.
The Hornets are batting a collective .294 in 68 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 11 of their 20 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.

RECORD BOOKS
In his fourth and final season with the Hornets, Wade Hanna has made an impact on the career batting records. Hanna currently sits third all-time with 706 at-bats and 218 hits. He is fourth all-time with 169 career runs scored and 12 triples. He now is fifth with 42 doubles and 207 games played. He has 112831 career RBI, needing 13 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 and runs, 14th in triples, 26th in total bases and 28th in hits.
Nathan Whitcomb is eighth on the Emporia State single season saves list with eight while Taylor Thompson is ranked fifth with 25 relief appearances this season.

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 #12 in ABCA Collegiate Baseball Newspaper for the April 24 Poll. The Hornets are ranked fourth in the Perfect Game  D2 Top 25, #5 in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Top 25, and #9 in the D2 Baseball News National Rankings. In two computer ratings systems, the Hornets are #5 in the Massey ratings and #7 in the HeroSports rankings.