#29 Emporia State Hornets (0-0, 0-0 MIAA)
vs. Southern Arkansas Muleriders (0-0, 0-0 GAC) •
Live Stats
Thursday, Feb. 1 • 10:00 a.m. • Air Hogs Stadium • Grand Prairie, Tex
Series Record: Tied 1-1 Last Meeting: SAU 9, ESU 2 (May 15, 2015)
vs. Oklahoma Christian Eagles (0-0, 0-0 HC) •
Live Stats
Friday, Feb. 2 • 7:00 p.m. • Air Hogs Stadium • Grand Prairie, Tex.
Series Record: ESU leads 2-0
vs. Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys (0-0, 0-0 GAC) •
Live Stats
Saturday, Feb. 3 • 1:00 p.m. • Air Hogs Stadium • Grand Prairie, Tex.
Series Record: ESU leads 5-1 Last Meeting: ESU 3, ATU 2 (May 16, 2014)
vs. Southeastern Oklahoma State (0-0, 0-0 GAC) •
Live Stats
Sunday, Feb. 4 • 1:00 p.m. • Air Hogs Stadium • Grand Prairie, Tex.
Series Record: SEOSU leads 14-13 Last Meeting: ESU 11, SEOSU 2 (1987)
Up Next: Metropolitan State - Denver • Feb. 9-11, 2018
Regency Athletics Complex • Denver, Colo.
SO IT BEGINS
Emporia State starts the season ranked #29 in the NCAA. The Hornets begin their season February 1-4 with a four game weekend at the Air Hogs DII Classic in Grand Prairie, Texas.
LOOKING BACK
The Hornets went 42-13 on the season, 29-6 in the MIAA last season. Emporia State advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth straight year and the 12th time in the last 14 seasons. They won the MIAA regular season championship and gained the right to host the DII Central Regional.
The Hornets were first in the MIAA with 500 runs, 445 RBI, and a .976 fielding percentage, and second with a .322 batting average, 635 hits, 115 doubles
THE COACHES
Bob Fornelli is 565-242 to begin his 15th season at Emporia State and is 871-355 overall in his 22nd year as a four year head coach. He has led Emporia State to two Division II World Series appearances in ten NCAA Tournaments.
Justin Pettigrew is 39-16 beginning his second year as head coach for Southern Arkansas.
Lonny Cobble is 157-108-1 beginning his sixth year as head coach for Oklahoma Christian.
Dave Dawson is 257-171 beginning his ninth year as head coach for Arkansas Tech.
Zach Crabtree begins his first season with Southeastern Okla. State after taking over in the summer of 2017.
ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State was 42-13 last season and are #29 to start this season. Catcher Mason Brown, first baseman Kaden Shafer, center fielder Mack Gowing, DH Taylor Sanagorski and third baseman Tate Kastens return after starting at least ten games last season along with starting pitchers Seth Holman and Tanner Cairns.
SCOUTING THE FIELD
Southern Arkansas went 39-16 last year and enter 2018 ranlked #35 in the nation. The Muleriders return first baseman Mark Fontenot, DH Cortland McPherson, 3B Jacob Richardson and SP Kenneth Tabor. The all-time series is tied 1-1 with SAU taking the last meeting 9-2 over the Hornets in the 2015 NCAA tournament.
Oklahoma Christian finished the 2017 season with a 28-21 record, 13-11 in the Heartland Conference. The Eagles return 11 players from the 2017 roster. Emporia State leads the all-time series 2-0 over Oklahoma Christian.
Arkansas Tech finished the 2017 season with a 34-21 record, 24-9 in the Great American Conference. The Wonder Boys are picked to finish third in the GAC after a second place finish last season. The Hornets lead the all-time series 5-1. ESU took the last meeting 3-2 over ATU in the 2014 NCAA tournament.
Southeastern Oklahoma finished the 2017 season 16-29-1, 13-17 in the GAC. The Savage Storm are picked to finish seventh in the GAC. The Hornets trail 14-13 in the all-time series after winning the last meeting 11-2 in 1987.
ON DECK
The #29 Hornets will travel to Denver, Colo. to take on Metro St. February 9-11.
