Emporia State Hornets (10-9, 4-5 MIAA)
vs Minnesota-Duluth (4-4, 0-0 NSIC)
Saturday, Mar. 17 • 12:00, 3:00 p.m. • Trusler Sports Complex • Emporia, Kan.
Sunday, Mar. 18 • 12:00, 3:00 p.m. • Trusler Sports Complex • Emporia, Kan..
Series Record: ESU leads 3-1 Last Meeting: ESU 4, UMD 0 (May 19, 2016)
Up Next: at Missouri Western • Mar. 20, 2018
Spring Sports Complex • St. Joseph, Mo.
Live Stats
BACK HOME
Emporia State plays host to non-conference opponent Minnesota-Duluth in double header action on March 17 and 18.
LAST AT BAT
Emporia State fell overall in the weekend against Pittsburg State 2-1 (12-15, 2-5, 3-1).
In game one the Gorillas had hot bats scoring at least one run in each of the first six innings. The Hornets had a seven run top of the fifth to bring within 9-11 but were unable to hold off the Gorillas to finish the game. In game two the Hornets went down 1-0 in the first inning. Emporia State tied the game with one run in the top of the fourth inning but the Gorillas answered with one in the bottom of the fifth and extended their lead with three in the sixth. The Hornets brought the game within 5-2 in the eighth but were unable to complete the comeback late in the game. In game three the Hornets got on the board first with two runs in the top of the third inning and never trailed in the game. The Gorillas scored their lone run in the bottom of the fifth to birng the game to 2-1 but the Hornets extended their lead back to two with one run in the top of the ninth for the 3-1 win.
THE COACHES
Bob Fornelli is 576-251 in his 15th season at Emporia State and is 882-364 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 3-1 against the Bulldogs.
Bob Rients is 294-303 in his 13th year as head coach for the Bulldogs.
ABOUT THE HORNETS
The Hornets have a team batting average of .299 while allowing opponents an average of .317. The Hornets have had 670 at bats with 200 hits for 151 runs on the season. Hornet pitchers have combined for 164 K's this season.
At the Plate
Bryce Fischer leads the Hornets with a .451 batting average, 37 hits and 23 runs. Mack Gowing has a .357 avg with 25 hits and 23 runs. Mason Brown, Brian Grove, Trevor Turner, Tate Kastens and Kaden Shaffer each have double digit hits and runs for the Hornets.
On the Mound
Seth Holman has 43 K's with an ERA of 5.82 through 34.0 innings with a record of 1-2. Taylor Thompson has 11 appearances, 18.0 innings, 15 K's and a 3.00 ERA. Max Simpson is 3-1 in five appearences, 19.2 innings with 21 K's.
THE MIAA
Bryce Fischer leads the MIAA in batting average with .451 and hits with 37. He is also second in RBI with 26 and third in slugging percentage with .761. Mack Gowing and Fischer are tied for fourth with 23 hits each. Seth Holman is tied for third with his 43 K's on the season.
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
Minnesota-Duluth is 4-4 to start the season. The Bulldogs have a team batting avg of .299 and an ERA of 4.71. Tyler Midas leads the Bulldogs with a .387 batting avg, 12 hits and nine runs. Henry George has 11 hits, five runs and an avg of .379. Marcus Frederickson has pitched 12.0 innings allowing six hits and three runs with an ERA of 2.25 for the Bulldogs.
LAST TIME AGAINST THE BULLDOGS
The Hornets defeated the Bulldogs 4-0 in the first round of the NCAA Central Regional Tournament. It took until the top of the seventh before the Hornets were able to score but they took advantage scoring two runs in the seventh and two in the eighth. The Hornets held on for the 4-0 lead. Hornet pitcher Tyler Stubblefield threw a complete game allowing just four hits.
ON DECK
The Hornets travel to St. Joseph Missouri for a midweek matchup against Missouri Western on Tuesday March 20.
