Emporia State Hornets (30-21, 20-16 MIAA)
vs Missouri Western (29-23, 20-16 MIAA)
Saturday, May 12 • 9:00 a.m. • James R. Crane Stadium • Warrensburg, Mo.
Series Record: ESU leads 107-38 Last Meeting: MWSU 11, ESU 3 (April 17, 2018)
If Won: Pittsburg State (33-17, 23-13 MIAA)
Saturday, May 12 • 12:30 p.m. • James R. Crane Stadium • Warrensburg, Mo.
Series Record: ESU leads 81-37 Last Meeting: ESU 3, PSU 1 (March 10, 2018)
 Up Next: If won: Pittsburg State • May 13, 2018 • 9:00 a.m.
Live Stats
Live Audio
Live Video
TOURNEY TIME
Emporia State continues in the MIAA Tournament to face the sixth seeded Missouri Western on day three. With a win the Hornets will continue to the 12:00 p.m. game on Saturday to face Pittsburg State.
LAST AT BAT
Emporia State fell 9-2 to Central Missouri on day two of the MIAA Tournament.
The Mules got on the board first with a run in the second and a run in the third inning before Tate Kastens put the Hornets on the board with a two-run home run in the bottom of the third. The Mules got one run in each of the fourth and fifth innings before taking control of the game with three in the eighth and capping it off with two in the ninth for the 9-2 win.
THE COACHES
Bob Fornelli is 595-263 in his 15th season at Emporia State and is 901-376 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 35-22 against the Griffons and 81-37 against the Gorillas.
Charles Verduzco is 562-413 in his fourth year leading the Griffons.
Tom Myers is 53-44 in his second year as head coach for the Gorillas.
ABOUT THE HORNETS
The Hornets have a team batting average of .291 while allowing opponents an average of .299. Hornet pitchers have combined for 393 K's this season.
At the Plate
Bryce Fischer leads the Hornets with a .407 batting average, 79 hits and 57 runs. Mack Gowing has a batting avg. of .328 with 66 hits and 51 runs. Mason Brown, Brian Grove, Trevor Turner, Brandon Bachar, Tate Kastens, Tanner Arst and Kaden Shaffer each have double digit hits and runs for the Hornets.
On the Mound
Seth Holman has 106 K's with an ERA of 3.67 through 98.0 innings with a record of 6-3. Taylor Thompson has 22 appearances, 48.0 innings, 31 K's and a 5.06 ERA. Max Simpson is 4-5 in 15 appearences, 62.1 innings with 54 K's.
SCOUTING THE GRIFFONS
The Griffons are 29-23 on the season, 20-16 in the MIAA with a team batting avg of .267 on the season.
LAST TIME AGAINST THE GRIFFONS
The Hornets fell 11-3 to the Griffons in St. Joseph, Mo.
SCOUTING THE GORILLAS
The Gorillas are 33-17 on the season, 23-13 in the MIAA with a team batting avg of .339 on the season.
LAST TIME AGAINST THE GORILLAS
The Hornets defeated the Gorillas 3-1 in game three of the weekend series in Pittsburg, KS.
ON DECK
With wins in both games on Saturday, the Hornets would play Pittsburg State on Sunday, May 13 at 9:00 a.m.
