EMPORIA STATE BASEBALL ON THE ROAD TO TAHLEQUAH THIS WEEKEND

Baseball | 4/25/2019 11:41:00 AM

Emporia State Hornets (25-16, 17-10 MIAA)
at Northeastern State RiverHawks (11-32, 8-19 MIAA)
Friday, April 26, 2019 • 2:00 p.m. • Thomas Rousey Field • Tahlequah, Okla.
Saturday, April 27, 2019 • 2:00 p.m. • Thomas Rousey Field • Tahlequah, Okla.
Sunday, April 28, 2019 • 1:00 p.m. • Thomas Rousey Field • Tahlequah, Okla.
Series History: ESU Leads 16-5 Last Meeting: at ESU 5, NSU 2 (April 29, 2018)
Radio: None Audio Stream: None Video: None
Live Stats • Complete Notes in pdf
Up Next: at Pittsburg St. • Tuesday, April 30, 2019 • 5:00 p.m. • Ortoloni Field • Pittsburg, Kan.

LAST ROAD TRIPS
The Hornets play their final road MIAA series at Northeastern State in Tahlequah, Okla.

LAST AT BAT
Every starter either reached base or drove in a run as Emporia State defeated Missouri Western 8-3 in non-conference action in St. Joseph, Mo. on Wednesday afternoon.
The Hornets got on the board first with a pair of runs in the third inning. The Griffons got one run back in the bottom of the third but ended the inning with the bases loaded. A lead off walk turned into an unearned run as Missouri Western tied the game in the bottom of the fourth. The Griffons then took a 3-2 lead in the top of the fifth. Emporia State retook the lead in the top of the seventh on two runs without the benefit of a hit as they scored on two walks, a hit batter and two sac flies to go up 4-3. ESU put four runs up in the top of the ninth with Connor Hurst two run double the big hit in the inning.
Cooper Minnick was two for four with two runs scored and an RBI, Hurst went one for four with a double, two RBI and a run scored while Brian Grove walked three times and scored twice.  

THE COACHES
Seth Wheeler is 25-16 overall, 17-10 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 meeting with Northeastern State.
Jake Hendrick is 88-104 in his fourth year as head coach for the RiverHawks. He is 1-8 against Emporia State.

ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 25-16, 17-10 in the MIAA and ranked ninth in the Central Region. They have gone 25-12 after starting the season 0-4. As a team they are batting .264 with 48 home runs. Hornet pitchers have a 4.51 team ERA. Connor Hurst leads Emporia State and is second in the MIAA with 11 home runs and ranks third in the league with 40 RBI while Aaron Dees is fourth in the MIAA with ten homers and third in the league with a .619 slugging percentage. Tanner Cairns leads the MIAA with 84.1 innings, is second in ERA at 2.24 and seventh in strikeouts with 75. The Hornets are third in the MIAA with a .968 fielding percentage and have turned 43 double plays to lead the MIAA.

SCOUTING THE RIVERHAWKS
Northeastern State is 11-32, 8-19 in the MIAA. They are batting .257 as a team and have a 6.99 team ERA. Colton Burgess is second in the MIAA in on base percentage, fifth in RBI and eighth in home runs.

SERIES HISTORY
Emporia State leads the all-time series 16-5 and have won nine straight.

LAST AT BAT WITH NORTHEASTERN ST.
Emporia State Baseball took game three 5-2 to complete the sweep over Northeastern State. The Hornets used ten hits and one RiverHawks error to get the win on Senior Day at the Trusler Sports Complex.
 
UP NEXT
The Hornets take on Pittsburg State on Tuesday in the final non-conference game of the season.  First pitch is set for 5:00 p.m. in Pittsburg, Kan.

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 25-16 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
The Hornets have assured themselves of at least a .500 record for the 19th straight season. 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 scored 25 runs with five homers and 21 RBI this season. He had back to back games with home runs against Washubrn. He has committed just four errors in 334 chances this season. He came to Emporia State after taking a medical redshirt at Mississippi State in 2018.
Second baseman Brian Grove (Sr./River Falls, Wis.) is fourth in the MIAA in triples, fifth in stolen bases, and sixth in doubles. He has a .319 average with 37 runs, 21 RBI, 15 doubles, three triples, three home runs and 16 stolen bases this season. He is the only Hornet to start every game this season. 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 Honorable Mention All-MIAA recognition.
Third baseman Paul Claassen (Jr./Whitewater, Kan.) is batting .302 with 30 runs scored, four home runs, ten doubles and 30 RBI. He has a team high 17 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 fourth the MIAA with 110 assists and has helped turn 24 double plays. He is batting .259 with 28 runs along with two home runs and 14 RBI this season. He took a medical redshirt after an injury early in the 2018 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 25 games with 19 starts this season. He has 12 hits with two home runs, seven walks and six RBI. As a junior he played in 32 games for the Hornets. He hit .284 with eight doubles and three home runs, while driving in 21 runs.

BEHIND THE PLATE
Catcher Cooper Minnick (Jr./Leon, Kan.) has thrown out ten of 25 would be base stealers to rank second among MIAA catchers. He is batting .298 with five home runs, 23 RBI and 26 runs scored on the season. 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 .333 with two home runs, three doubles, 11 runs scored and 12 RBI in 21 games with 20 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 22 games with 12 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 Central Region All-Tournament team as a freshman.
Designated hitter Ryan Krolikowski (Jr./Grand Island, Neb.) has played in 12 games with three starts this season.  He does not have a hit in ten 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, fifth in slugging percentage, and tenth in doubles. He has 11 home runs, 13 doubles, 40 RBI and a .619 slugging percentage. He is batting .283 and has a .372 on base percentage. He has hit multiple home runs in three games this season. As a sophomore at Butler CC, he hit .385 with an OBP of .476 and finished the season with 12 doubles, four triples, 18 home runs, 64 RBIs, 57 runs scored, and 20 stolen bases. He was named First Team All-Jayhawk Conference 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 .306 with ten home runs, ten doubles, 32 RBI and a .619 slugging percentage. He transferred to Emporia State from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
Outfielder Mitch Sloan (Sr./Paola, Kan.) has played in 27 games with 24 starts this season. He has scored 17 runs with 15 RBI and has two doubles, a triple and two home runs 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 20 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.  
Outfielder Brett Huelsmann (Jr./Wichita, Kan.) has played in 12 games with one start and has scored five runs. 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, and walks allowed per nine innings, and is ranked second in ERA and strikeout to walk ratio, third in WHIP and seventh in total strike outs. He is 5-1 with a 2.24 ERA and a team high 75 strikeouts in 84.1 innings pitched with only 15 walks. He has thrown at least six innings and given up three or fewer earned runs in ten of his 11 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. He is fifth in career starts and innings pitched at Emporia State while ranking sixth in wins and ninth in career strikeouts.
Right-handed pitcher Jake Barton (Sr./Omaha, Neb.) is sixth in the MIAA in opponents batting average and ninth in ERA. He is 5-3 on the season and has thrown 66.2 innings with 66 strikeouts and a 2.84 ERA. He is allowing opponents to hit just .207 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 2-4 with a 6.75 ERA. He has eight starts in 12 appearances. His 41.1 innings pitched and 42 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.) is fifth in the MIAA in saves. He has a 2-0 record with five saves in 20 appearances out of the bullpen. He has a 1.45 ERA in 31.0 innings pitched with 27 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 11 games and has a 1.50 ERA in 12.0 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 Mason LeClair (Jr./Mulvane, Kan.) is 0-2 in 13 relief appearances with 19 strike outs in 15.2 innings this season. He transferred to Emporia State from UNC Charlotte at semester and appeared in nine games last year 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.
Right-handed pitcher Drew Repp (Jr./Topeka, Kan.) is 3-0 in 13 relief appearances with a 5.81 ERA. He has struck out 20 in 26.1 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 ten relief appearances with nine strike outs in 9.1 innings pitched. He redshirted last season at Emporia State.  He appeared in 25 games over two years at Butler CC.

MIDDLE OF THE WEEK
Left-handed pitcher Jarrett Season (So./Omaha, Neb.) is 3-1 with a 7.71 ERA in seven games with five starts. He appeared in six games as a sophomore at Barton CC before suffering a season ending injury. He had a 2-3 record with 27 innings pitched and 23 strikeouts. He finished his sophomore campaign with a 3.67 ERA. As a freshman he appeared in 13 games with a 10-2 record with a 4.46 ERA. He threw 70.2 innings with 58 strikeouts. He was named First-Team All Conference, and All Region, and was named Pitcher of the Year in the Jayhawk West.
Right-handed pitcher Adam Thies (Sr./Olathe, Kan.) is 3-1 with a 2.95 ERA, 19 strikeouts and just nine walks in 18.1 innings of work over 11 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 Treston Rook (Jr./Olathe, Kan.) has started one of his four appearances this year. As a sophomore at Fort Scott CC he threw 54 innings as a starter for the Greyhounds and finished the year with an 9-2 record with 9.2 K/9 innings.

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.