Emporia State Hornets (15-11, 6-7 MIAA)
vs Washburn (8-19, 2-14 MIAA)
Wednesday, Mar. 28 • 3:00 p.m. • Trusler Sports Complex • Emporia, Kan.
Series Record: ESU leads 173-74-1 Last Meeting: ESU 13, WU 7 (April 25, 2017)
Up Next: vs. Fort Hays State • Mar. 29-31, 2018
Trusler Sports Complex • Emporia, Kan
Live Stats
TIME TO TUSSLE
Emporia State returns home to take on Washburn in game one of the 2018 Turnpike Tussle series.
LAST AT BAT
Emporia State won the series 2-1 over Missouri Southern (6-4, 9-4, 0-1).
In game one the Hornets trailed 4-2 after two innings but used good fielding and late game runs to take the 6-4 win. Bryce Fischer and Trever Turner each had home runs for the Hornets. In game two the Hornets took a 2-1 lead after the first but the Lions scored two in the second to gain the lead. The Lions scored one in the fifth before the Hornets took the lead with one run in the sixth and two in the seventh before sealing the game with four runs in the ninth. Game three was a defensive battle with no runs until the tenth inning when the Lions got an rbi single to take the 1-0 win.
THE COACHES
Bob Fornelli is 581-253 in his 15th season at Emporia State and is 887-366 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 43-20 against the Ichabods.
Harley Douglas is 96-87 in his fourth year as head coach for the Ichabods.
ABOUT THE HORNETS
The Hornets have a team batting average of .294 while also allowing opponents an average of .294. The Hornets have had 896 at bats with 263 hits for 189 runs on the season. Hornet pitchers have combined for 220 K's this season.
At the Plate
Bryce Fischer leads the Hornets with a .422 batting average, 46 hits and 28 runs. Mack Gowing has a .327 avg with 32 hits and 29 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 57 K's with an ERA of 4.96 through 49.0 innings with a record of 2-2. Taylor Thompson has 14 appearances, 21.1 innings, 16 K's and a 3.80 ERA. Max Simpson is 3-1 in eight appearences, 33.1 innings with 34 K's.
SCOUTING THE ICHABODS
The Ichabods start the season 8-19 overall, 2-14 in the MIAA. Steven Jacobson leads the Ichabods with a .333 batting avg. Josh Crosby has 29 hits and 18 runs while Darian Abram has 22 hits with 20 runs. Josh Ramirez has pitched 47.1 innings with 36 K's and an ERA of 2.28.
LAST TIME AGAINST THE ICHABODS
The Hornets won 13-7 over the Ichabods. The Hornets got on the board first with a run in the top of the second and three in the third but Washburn answered with five in the bottom of the third and one in the fourth to take the lead 6-4. Teams exchanged runs in the fifth before exchanging outs for three innings. In the top of the ninth, the Hornets tied the game with two runs before erupting for six runs in the tenth to take the win 13-7.
ON DECK
The Hornets play host Fort Hays State at the Trusler Sports Complex for a three game series March 29-31.
