Emporia State Hornets (19-16, 10-12 MIAA)
vs Central Oklahoma (28-11, 20-5 MIAA)
Sunday, April 15 • 3:00 p.m. • Trusler Sports Complex • Emporia, Kan.
Monday, April 16 • 12:00, 3:00 p.m. (DH) • Trusler Sports Complex • Emporia, Kan.
Series Record: ESU leads 28-24 Last Meeting: UCO 6, ESU 5 (May 20, 2017)
 Up Next: at Missouri Western • April. 17, 2018
Trusler Sports Complex • Emporia, Kan
Live Stats
BACK AT HOME
Emporia State plays host to Central Oklahoma in a three game series April 15-16.
LAST AT BAT
Emporia State fell 8-7 in a midweek Turnpike Tussle matchup against Washburn.
The Ichabods got on the board first with one run in the bottom of the first inning but the Hornets answered quickly with a run in the top of the second. The teams exchanged four runs each in the third inning before the Ichabods took the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Washburn extended their lead with another run in the bottom of the sixth to be up 7-5. In the bottom of the eighth, Washburn scored their final run. The Hornets made a late comeback attempt scoring two runs in the top of the ninth but fell 8-7 in the game. At the plate the Hornets had five players with at least one hit led by Mason Brown with two hits and two RBI in the game. Connor Burns started on the mound for the Hornets and took the loss pitching 0.2 innings allowing one run on no hits with one strikeout. He is now 1-1 on the season.
THE COACHES
Bob Fornelli is 584-258 in his 15th season at Emporia State and is 891-370 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 22-18 against the Bronchos.
John Martin is 95-53-1 in his third year as head coach for Central Oklahoma.
ABOUT THE HORNETS
The Hornets have a team batting average of .294 while allowing opponents an average of .300. The Hornets have had 1209 at bats with 356 hits for 253 runs on the season. Hornet pitchers have combined for 295 K's this season.
At the Plate
Bryce Fischer leads the Hornets with a .421 batting average, 59 hits and 38 runs. Kaden Shaffer has a .341 avg with 46 hits and 32 runs. Mason Brown, Brian Grove, Trevor Turner, Tate Kastens, Tanner Arst and Mack Gowing each have double digit hits and runs for the Hornets.
On the Mound
Seth Holman has 73 K's with an ERA of 4.29 through 65.0 innings with a record of 3-2. Taylor Thompson has 18 appearances, 28.2 innings, 23 K's and a 5.65 ERA. Max Simpson is 3-3 in 10 appearences, 40.2 innings with 40 K's.
SCOUTING THE BRONCHOS
The Bronchos are 28-11 on the season, 20-5 in the MIAA. Kyle Miskovsky leads the Bronchos with a .363 batting average, 57 hits and 33 runs. Jake Dyer has a .359 batting avg with 56 hits and 37 runs while Paul Kropf bats .352 with 56 hits and 45 runs. Ryan Lemoine leads the Bronchos on the mound with an ERA of 3.59, 7 wins and one loss and 51 K's.
LAST TIME AGAINST THE ICHABODS
Emporia State fell 6-5 to Central Oklahoma in the 2017 NCAA Central Regional Tournament.
ON DECK
The Hornets travel to Missouri Western for a midweek matchup on April 17.
