#29 Emporia State Hornets (6-7, 0-3 MIAA)
vs Southwest Baptist (6-8, 1-2 MIAA)
Friday, Mar. 2 • 5:00 p.m. • Trusler Sports Complex • Emporia, Kan.
Saturday, Mar. 3 • 1:00 p.m. • Trusler Sports Complex • Emporia, Kan.
Sunday, Mar. 4 • 12:00 p.m. • Trusler Sports Complex • Emporia, Kan.
Series Record: ESU leads 58-13 Last Meeting: ESU 15, SBU 4 (May 7, 2017)
Up Next: at Pittsburg State • Mar. 9-11, 2018
Gene Bicknell Sports Complex • Pittsburg, Kan.
MARCH ON
Emporia State plays host to Southwest Baptist in a three game series at Trusler Sports Complex March 2-4.
LAST AT BAT
Emporia State fell 3-2, 7-6 and 12-11 to Northwest Missouri on opening weekend of MIAA play. Game one was a 14 inning defensive battle between the two teams. Hornet pitchers combined for 21 K's in the game. In game two the Hornets got on the board early with three runs in the first inning and were up 5-1 after three. The Bearcats stayed in the game and took the lead 7-6 in the seventh inning to hold on to win. The Hornets had hot bats to start game three scoring three runs in the first and two runs in the second but allowed four in the bottom of the second to be up 5-4. The Hornets extended their lead with five runs from the third inning to the sixth inning. The Bearcats cut into the lead with three runs in the bottom of the sixth and tied the game at 10-10 with one run in the seventh and eighth. Going into extra innings for the second time in the series the Hornets scored a run in top of the 12th before the Bearcats hit a two run homerun to end the game.
THE COACHES
Bob Fornelli is 572-249 in his 15th season at Emporia State and is 878-362 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. Fornelli is 37-8 against the Bearcats.
Chris Martin is 149-164-1 in his seventh year as head coach for the Bearcats.
ABOUT THE HORNETS
The Hornets have a team batting average of .287 while allowing opponents an average of .318. The Hornets have had 463 at bats with 133 hits for 89 runs on the season.
At the Plate
Bryce Fischer leads the Hornets with a .439 batting average, 25 hits and 14 runs. Tanner Arst has a .400 average with eight hits and five runs while Trevor Turner hits .381 with 16 hits and eight runs followed by Mason Brown with a .340 avg, 17 hits and nine runs. Mack Gowing has 11 runs while Brian Grove and Kaden Shaffer each add ten.
On the Mound
Seth Holman has 28 K's with an ERA of 4.56 through 23.2 innings with a record of 1-1. Jacob Tetuan has pitched 8.0 innings with an ERA of 3.38 and nine K's. Taylor Thompson has nine appearances, 13.1 innings, 12 K's and a 3.38 ERA.
SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
Southwest Baptist is 6-8 to start the season, 1-2 in the MIAA. Andrew Meier leads the Bearcats with a .439 batting average, 25 hits and 19 runs followed by Tyler Mathys with an avg of .421, 24 hits and 15 runs. Dalton Morrow has four starts on the mound with a 4.00 ERA, 27 innings pitched and 25 K's.
LAST TIME AGAINST THE BEARCATS
The #12 Hornets swept Southwest Baptist. The Hornets won 11-9 in game one although being outhit 15-14 in the game. In game two, the Hornets earned a run-rule 12-1 win in seven innings. The Hornets completed the sweep of the Bearcats with another seven inning run-rule win 15-4 to wrap up the series and end the 2017 regular season.
SERIES HISTORY
Emporia State leads the all-time series 58-13 over Southwest Baptist. The Hornets have won the last five meetings dating back to May 6, 2016.
ON DECK
The Hornets travel to Pittsburg, Kansas to take on the Pittsburg State Gorillas at the Gene Bicknell Sports Complex March 9-11.
