Baseball | 4/11/2019 3:41:00 PM
Emporia State Hornets (20-13, 14-7 MIAA)
vs. Pittsburg State Gorillas (18-16, 11-10 MIAA)
Friday, April 12, 2019 • 6:00 p.m. • Glennen Field/Trusler • Emporia, Kan. Â
Radio: KFFX 104.9FM
Audio Stream:
kvoe.com Video:
themiaanetwork.com/esuhornets
Saturday, April 13, 2019 • 1:00 p.m. • Glennen Field/Trusler • Emporia, Kan. Â
Radio: None
Audio Stream: None
Video: None
Sunday, April 14, 2019 • 12:00 p.m. • Glennen Field/Trusler • Emporia, Kan. Â
Radio: KFFX 104.9FM
Audio Stream:
kvoe.com Video:
themiaanetwork.com/esuhornets
Series History: ESU Leads 83-37
Last Meeting: ESU 11, PSU 5 (May 13, 2018-MIAA Tourney)
Live Stats •
Complete Notes in pdf
Up Next: at #16 Mo. Southern • April 16 • Warren Turner Field • Joplin, Mo.
WELCOME BACK
The Hornets play host to Pittsburg State for a key MIAA series that includes Coach Bob Fornelli's return to Trusler.
LAST AT BAT
Emporia State could not overcome a six run third inning by Newman in a 13-6 loss to the Jets. Both teams scored in the first inning and were held scoreless in the second. The Jets sent 11 men to the plate in the top of the third to score six runs on five hits, two walks and two Hornet errors. The Jets would add another run in the top of the fourth before the Hornets got two back in the bottom of the inning. The Jets added two more runs in the top of the sixth and Emporia State answered with three of their own in the bottom of the sixth. Newman answered immediately in the top of the seventh with a three run homer by Paul Rupnick to take a 13-6 lead. Jarrett Seaton gave up seven runs, four of them earned in 2.1 innings to take the loss. Tyrus Barclay was two for two with a home run, two runs scored and an RBI while Brian Grove was two for four with two runs scored.
THE COACHES
Seth Wheeler is 20-13 overall, 14-7 in the MIAA in his first season as the Hornets head coach. Over the past three years as a pitching coach at Emporia State, Wheeler has led the Hornets to the second best ERA in the MIAA at 4.60 improving from sixth in 2014. This is his first game against Pittsburg State.
Bob Fornelli is 18-16 in his first season at Pittsburg State. He is 923-395 in his 23rd year as a head coach including a 599-266 record in 15 years at Emporia State. He was 13-2 against the Hornets while at Ft. Hays State.
ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 20-13 on the season, 14-7 in the MIAA and have gone 20-9 after starting the season 0-4. As a team they are batting .261 with 38 home runs. Hornet pitchers have a 5.00 team ERA. Connor Hurst leads Emporia State and is second in the MIAA with ten home runs and ranks third in the league with 35 RBI. Paul Claassen is batting .331 while Brian Groves is batting .315 with a team high 28 runs, 11 doubles and 12 stolen bases. Tanner Cairns has a 2.37 ERA to rank third in the MIAA with 59 strikeouts and only 11 walks in 68.1 innings with three complete games. The Hornets are third in the MIAA with a .967 fielding percentage.
SCOUTING THE GORILLAS
Pittsburg State is 18-16 overall and 11-10 in the MIAA. They are last in the MIAA with a .244 team batting average but rank second in the league with a 4.02 team ERA and .970 fielding percentage. Â
SERIES HISTORY
Emporia State leads the all-time series 83-37 and have won nine of the last 11 with only three of those games at Trusler.
LAST AT BAT WITH PITTSBURG STATE
The Hornets used five pitchers while Mack Gowing wnet two for four with three RBI and three runs scored to eliminate the Gorillas from the MIAA Tournament with an 11-5 win in Warrensburg, Mo.
UP NEXT
The Hornets go to Joplin, Mo. on Tuesday, April 16 for a non-league game at #16 Missouri Southern. First pitch is at 5:00 p.m.
WHEELS ON THE BUS
On Friday, June 22, the Emporia State Hornets announced the hiring of Seth Wheeler as the 15th head coach in Hornet baseball history. He is 20-13 in his first season. Wheeler spent the previous three seasons as the pitching and catchers coach at Emporia State. The Hornets had the second best ERA in the conference at 4.60 over his three seasons after ranking sixth in the league in 2014. Emporia State was 110-52 with three trips to the NCAA Tournament and an MIAA regular season championship with Wheeler as an assistant in the dugout.
He began his coaching career with the Junction City Brigade, a collegiate wood bat team that competes in the Mid-Plains League, the summer after graduating from Central Missouri. Wheeler served as the hitting coach as the team went 26-10, won the MPL and led the league in runs per game. During the school year he was an assistant coach at Butler CC. He was in charge of catchers and base running for the Grizzlies who led the NJCAA in stolen bases with 157 on the season.
SUSTAINED SUCCESS
Over the last 50 years Emporia State has only had three losing seasons and during one of those seasons they won the MIAA Tournament and hosted the NCAA Regional. The four coaches in that time have all won at least 58% of their games. The Hornets have gone to 14 NCAA Tournaments, two NCAA World Series and a national championship game appearance in 2009 after advancing to seven NAIA World Series between 1969-1987 with a national championship in 1978 and runner-up finish in 1987.
AROUND THE HORN
First baseman Lou Pener (Jr./Overland Park, Kan.) has 20 runs and 16 RBI this season. He has committed just two errors in 245 chances this season. In 2018, Pener took a medical redshirt at Mississippi State.
Second baseman Brian Grove (Sr./River Falls, Wis.) is fifth in the MIAA in stolen bases, seventh in triples and tenth in doubles. He has a .315 average with 28 runs, 16 RBI, 11 doubles and 12 stolen bases this season. He is currently on a nine game hitting streak. He started 55 games at second base for the Hornets in 2018 hitting .301 with 59 runs scored, 14 doubles, three triples, and four home runs on his way to a .449 slugging percentage and MIAA All-Conference Honorable Mention recognition.
Third baseman Paul Claassen (Sr./Denver, Colo.) is batting .331 with 27 runs scored, three home runs, eight doubles and 23 RBI. He has a team high 16 multi-hit games this year. He played in 55 games as a sophomore at Barton CC in 2017. He had a .290 batting average, with a .370 slugging percentage, and .432 on base percentage. He hit 12 doubles, two triples, and three home runs with the Cougars.
Shortstop Josh Norlin (Jr./Wichita, Kan.) is batting .263 with 23 runs including one home run and ten RBI this season. He attended Dallas Baptist in the fall of 2018 before he transferred to Emporia State and took a medical redshirt after an injury early in the season. As a sophomore in 2017, Norlin hit .404 for Neosho County with an on base percentage of .536, 18 doubles, four home runs, 50 RBI and 55 walks. He was named second team All-League at shortstop.
Third baseman Tanner Arst (Sr./Wichita, Kan.) has played in 19 games with 17 starts this season. He has 11 hits with two home runs and six RBI. As a junior he played in 32 games for the Hornets. He hit .284 with eight doubles and three home runs, driving in 21 runs.
BEHIND THE PLATE
Catcher Cooper Minnick (Jr./Leon, Kan.) is batting .283 with five home runs, 18 RBI and 22 runs scored on the season. He has thrown out nine of 20 would be base stealers. He redshirted for the Hornets in 2018. As a sophomore at Neosho County, he hit .359 in 217 AB's with 21 doubles, two triples, nine home runs, and 69 RBI's. Minnick was named First Team All-Conference, First Team All-Region, third Team All-American, and earned the Gold Glove as a catcher in the Jayhawk Conference.
Catcher Tyrus Barclay (Jr./Wyoming, Ontario) is batting .326 with two home runs, two doubles, nine runs scored and eight RBI in 14 games with 13 starts on the season. Last year he caught 54 of 55 games for Garden City CC with an on base percentage of .452, a .310 batting average and 12 doubles.
AT THE PLATE
Designated hitter/infielder Tucker Perkins (Sr./Belton, Mo.) has appeared in 18 games with ten starts with a home run and two doubles this season. As a sophomore he hit .311 with a .404 on base percentage in 29 games. He hit .363 with an OBP of .441 in 42 games and was named to the all central region tournament team as a freshman.
Designated hitter Ryan Krolikowski (Jr./Grand Island, Neb.) has played in 11 games with three starts this season. He did not have a hit in eight pinch hitting appearances but hit a home run in a start against Missouri Southern. As a sophomore at Cloud County CC he hit .364 with an OBP of .452 and finished the year with 64 hits, 14 doubles, six home runs, 53 RBI, and 22 walks as he earned Second-Team All-Conference honors.
OUT IN THE FIELD
Outfielder Connor Hurst (Jr./Augusta, Kan.) is second in the MIAA in home runs, third in RBI and fourth in slugging percentage. He has ten home runs, 35 RBI and a .632 slugging percentage. He is batting .274 and has a .336 on base percentage. He has hit multiple home runs in three games this season. In 2018, as a sophomore at Butler CC, he hit .385 with an OBP of .476 and finished the season with 69 hits including 12 doubles, four triples, 18 Home runs, 64 RBIs, 57 runs scored, and 20 stolen bases. He was named First Team All-Jayhawk Conference Outfield and Second Team All-Region VI.
Outfielder Aaron Dees (Sr./Burlington, Kan.) is third in the MIAA in slugging percentage and fourth in home runs. He is batting .301 with eight home runs, nine doubles, 28 RBI and a .641 slugging percentage. He transferred to Emporia State from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
Outfielder Mitch Sloan (Sr./Paola, Kan.) has played in 19 games with 17 starts this season. He has scored 14 runs with 11 RBI and has two doubles, a triple and a home run this year. He played in 35 games with 29 starts for Cameron in 2018 with 15 runs scored. As a sophomore at Ft. Scott CC in 2017 he hit .338 with 68 hits, 46 runs scored, 16 doubles, and five home runs.
Outfielder Christian Roduner (Jr./Rossville, Kan.) has 17 starts in 19 games this year. He has scored nine runs on eight hits. In 2018, he hit .275 with a .433 on base percentage in 38 games at Colby CC. Â
Outfielder Brett Huelsmann (Jr./Wichita, Kan.) has played in eight games with one start. He was one for three with walk and two runs scored in his only start at Newman. He hit .319 with an on base percentage of .435, two home runs and four triples for Barton CC last year.
ON THE MOUND
Right-handed pitcher Tanner Cairns (Sr./Wichita, Kan.) leads the MIAA in complete games, innings pitched, strikeout to walk ratio and walks allowed per nine innings, and is ranked fourth in ERA and seventh in total strike outs. He is 3-1 with a 2.37 ERA and a team high 59 strikeouts in 68.1 innings pitched with only 11 walks. He has thrown at least six innings and given up three or fewer earned runs in eight of his nine starts this season. He did not allow a run or walk and had eight strikeouts while scattering seven hits in 10.0 innings against Missouri Southern. Last year he threw a total of 88.0 innings in 15 appearances with all 15 being starts in his junior season. He had a record of 9-1 with an ERA of 4.04 and had an opposing batting average of .279 to earn All-MIAA third team honors
Right-handed pitcher Jake Barton (Sr./Omaha, Neb.) is 4-2 on the season and has thrown 53.2 innings with 48 strikeouts and a 3.19 ERA. He is allowing opponents to hit just .211 against him. He had ten strikeouts with no walks and allowed only one earned run on two hits in 8.0 innings at Southwest Baptist. He medically redshirted the past two seasons. In 2016 he logged 72.2 innings in 14 starts at Johnson County CC. He was 8-1 with six complete games and 83 strike outs allowing just 30 earned runs for a 3.72 ERA.
Right-handed pitcher Ryan Lee (Sr./Grandview, Mo.) is 2-2 with a 5.94 ERA. He has six starts in ten appearances. His 33.1 innings pitched and 34 strikeouts both rank third on the team. As a junior in 2017 he had a 2.96 ERA in 26 innings out of the bullpen at Missouri. He was a midweek starter for Missouri and accumulated 78 innings over 10 starts with a 3.92 ERA as a sophomore. He had a 5.63 ERA over 13.1 innings as a red-shirt freshman for the Tigers.
IN THE PEN
Right-handed pitcher Drew Scrimsher (Sr./Oskaloosa, Kan.) has a 2-0 record with four saves in 15 appearances out of the bullpen. He has a 1.82 ERA in 24.2 innings pitched with 24 strikeouts. Last year he appeared in 12 games for the Hornets, striking out 13 batters with a 5.87 ERA in 15.1 innings pitched.
Right handed pitcher Connor Burns (Sr./St. Albert, Alberta) has appeared in nine games and has a 1.80 ERA in 10.0 innings. He had 12 appearances and pitched 13.2 innings last year for the Hornets. As a sophomore at Garden City CC, he started 10 games and appeared in 11 with a 6-2 record. He had a 4.97 ERA with 51 K's to 14 walks in 63.1 innings pitched. As a freshman he went 5-1 with an ERA of 3.87 in 81.1 innings. He had 83 strikeouts and only seven walks.
Right-handed pitcher Drew Repp (Jr./Topeka, Kan.) is 3-0 in 11 relief appearances with a 6.17 ERA. He has struck out 18 in 23.1 innings. As a sophomore at Barton CC he had a 6.00 ERA with 48 strikeouts in 16 appearances. He had a 4.13 ERA with 32 strikeouts with a total of 14 appearances as a freshman
Left-handed pitcher Dale Miller (Fr./Lawrence, Kan.) is 1-2 with a 4.38 ERA in six relief appearances. He red-shirted last year with the Hornets after earning First-Team All-State in Class 6A for Lawrence Free State HS.
Right-handed pitcher Sloan Baker (Jr./Scott City, Kan.) has nine relief appearances with eight strike outs in 8.1 innings pitched. He redshirted last season at Emporia State. He appeared in 25 games over two years at Butler CC.
Right-handed pitcher Mason LeClair (Jr./Mulvane, Kan.) is 0-2 in ten relief appearances with 11 strike outs in 8.0 innings this season. He transferred to Emporia State from UNC Charlotte at semester and appeared in nine games before an injury ended his season and caused him to take a medical red-shirt. He was a first-team All-Jayhawk reliever for Cowley CC as a sophomore.
MIDDLE OF THE WEEK
Right-handed pitcher Adam Thies (Sr./Olathe, Kan.) is 2-1 with a 4.26 ERA, 16 strikeouts and just six walks in 12.2 innings of work over eight games with a start. He pitched in 14 games and started six with a 2-2 record and one save last year for the Hornets. He was 3-5 in 12 games with a 6.97 ERA as a sophomore at Johnson CC. He was 4-0 record with 22 strikeouts and a 3.46 ERA as a freshman.
Right-handed pitcher Hayden Schaeffer (Thornton, Colo.) is 1-2 in eight appearances with four starts. He has battled injuries the last two seasons. As a freshman he started three games. He had 25 strikeouts and seven walks in 26.0 innings.
Left-handed pitcher Jarrett Season (So./Omaha, Neb.) is 2-1 in five games with three starts.
HISTORY
Emporia State advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth straight year in the 2018 season and the 13th time in the last 15 seasons. The Hornets finished seventh in the MIAA regular season after having finished first or second in regular season play for the past four seasons. With Wheeler in the dugout, Emporia State claimed the regular season title in 2017 and advanced to the MIAA tournament title game in 2018.
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