EMPORIA STATE BASEBALL TO PLAY HOST TO NEWMAN IN MID-WEEK CONTEST

Baseball | 4/9/2019 10:39:00 PM

Emporia State Hornets (20-12, 14-7 MIAA)
vs.
Newman Jets (13-19, 1-8 Heartland)
Wednesday, April 10, 2019 • 5:00 p.m. • Glennen Field/Trusler • Emporia, Kan. 
Series History: ESU Leads 54-18 Last Meeting: ESU 13, at NU 2 (March 26, 2019)
Radio: None Audio Stream: None Video: None
Live Stats • Complete Notes in pdf
Up Next: Pittsburg State • April 12 • Glennen Field/Trusler • Emporia, Kan.

HELLO NEWMAN
The Hornets take a break from the MIAA to take on Newman in a non-conference mid week game that starts the second half of a ten game home stand. After this Emporia State is scheduled to play just one other non-MIAA team in the final 15 games.

LAST AT BAT
Emporia State pounded out 12 hits and took advantage of four Missouri Western errors to take the series with an 11-3 win on Saturday afternoon at the Trusler Sports Complex.
After a rocky start Jake Barton retired 17 of the last 20 batters he faced, getting seven of his nine strikeouts in the process.  Adam Thiess came on to start the eighth and sat the Griffons down in order, getting two strikeouts to end the inning. Thiess allowed the first two batters on in the top of the ninth before retiring three in a row and ending the game with a strikeout.
The first five Hornets in the line up had at least one RBI while four of the five scored a run. Aaron Dees went two for five with a double, a home run, three RBI and two runs scored. Paul Claassen was also two for five with two runs scored and an RBI. The bottom of the line up also produced with Mitch Sloan and Josh Norlin both going two for four with two runs scored in the eight and nine holes in the line up.

THE COACHES
Seth Wheeler is 20-12 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.  He is 2-0 against Newman.
Zane Ehling  is 223-240 in his tenth season as the head coach at Newman.  He is 2-15 against Emporia State.

ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 20-12 on the season, 14-7 in the MIAA and have gone 20-8 after starting the season 0-4. The Hornets have scored 213 runs on 277 hits with 37 home runs. Hornet pitchers are allowing opponents to bat .270 and have a 4.84 team ERA. Connor Hurst leads Emporia State and is second in the MIAA with ten home runs and ranks third with 35 RBI. Paul Claassen is batting .341 with a team high 27 runs scored. Brian Grove has 11 doubles and ten stolen bases. Tanner Cairns has a 2.37 ERA with 59 strikeouts and only 11 walks in 68.1 innings with three complete games.

SCOUTING THE JETS
Newman is 13-19 overall with a 1-8 mark in their final year in the Heartland Conference. They are batting .266 as a team and have a 6.77 team ERA.  Paul Rupnik is batting .350 and leads the team with 21 runs and 21 RBI. Ryan Boaz has the most appearances with 12 and has a 2.47 ERA.

SERIES HISTORY
Emporia State leads the all-time series 54-18 over Newman. The Hornets have won the last 12 meetings dating back to April 22, 2014.

LAST AT BAT WITH NEWMAN
Emporia State ran its winning streak to five games with a sweep of Newman.  The Hornets won game one 5-4 and took the nightcap 13-2 in Wichita.

UP NEXT
The Hornets wrap up their home stand with a three game set against Pittsburg State and former Emporia State coach Bob Fornelli. First pitch of game one of the series is set for 6:00 p.m. on Friday, April 12 at the Trusler Sports Complex.

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 20-12 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. He has a .310 average with 26 runs, 1162 RBI and ten stolen bases 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 MIAA All-Conference Honorable Mention recognition.
Third baseman Paul Claassen (Sr./Denver, Colo.) has a .341 average 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.) has 23 hits with 22 runs including one home run and nine 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 18 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.

AT THE PLATE
Designated hitter/infielder Tucker Perkins (Sr./Belton, Mo.) has appeared in 17 games with nine 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.

BEHIND THE PLATE
Catcher Cooper Minnick (Jr./Leon, Kan.) is batting .291 with five home runs, 18 RBI and 22 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 .293 with a home run, two doubles, seven runs scored and seven RBI in 13 games with 12 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.

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 .643 slugging percentage. He is batting .277 and has a .341 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 .303 with eight home runs, eight doubles, 26 RBI and a .646 slugging percentage. He transferred to Emporia State from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
Outfielder Mitch Sloan (Sr./Paola, Kan.) has played in 18 games with 16 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.  
Outfielder Brett Huelsmann (Jr./Wichita, Kan.) has played in seven 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 and innings pitched, and is ranked second in walks allowed per nine innings and strikeout to walk ratio. 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 Drew Repp (Jr./Topeka, Kan.) is 3-0 in ten relief appearances with a 5.64 ERA. He has struck out 17 in 22.1 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
Right handed pitcher Connor Burns (Sr./St. Albert, Alberta) has appeared in eight games and has a 2.00 ERA in 9.0 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.
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 eight relief appearances with eight strike outs in 7.1 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 2-0 in four games with two starts. He has given up ten runs in 10.1 innings pitched on the season.
Right-handed pitcher Adam Thies (Sr./Olathe, Kan.) is 2-1 with 14 strikeouts in 11.0 innings of work over seven games. 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 seven 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.

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.