Emporia State Hornets (27-21, 19-14 MIAA)
vs. Missouri Western Griffons (20-23, 17-16 MIAA)
MIAA Tournament
Series History: ESU Leads 107-49
Last Meeting: ESU 8, at MWSU 3 (April 24, 2019)
Friday, May 10, 2019 • 12:30 p.m. • Al Ortolani Field • Pittsburg, Kan.
Radio: KFFX-104.9FM
Audio Stream:
kvoe.com Video:
themiaanetwork.com/esuhornets
Live Stats •
Complete Notes in pdf
Up Next: Winner vs. UCM or PSU • Saturday, May 11, 2019 • 4:00 p.m.
Ortolani Field • Pittsburg, Kan.
MEMORIES ARE MADE IN MAY
The Hornets take on Missouri Western in an elimination game at the MIAA Tournament. Emporia State will need to win the MIAA Tournament to extend their streak of making the NCAA Tournament to six straight years. The Hornets have won three MIAA Tournament titles beginning with one in their first tourney appearance in 1993. They have been the runners-up seven times, including last year.
LAST AT BAT
Emporia State gave up two unearned runs that proved to be the difference in a 5-3 loss to Pittsburg State. The Hornets led 1-0 after one inning only to see the Gorillas score three in the bottom of the second. Emporia State responded with three runs in the top of the third to go up 4-3. Pittsburg State scored unearned runs in the fourth and fifth to take the 5-4 advantage. Tanner Cairns went the distance on the mound, allowing three earned runs and five total on seven hits with five walks and seven strikeouts.
THE COACHES
Seth Wheeler is 27-21 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 3-1 against Missouri Western. He is 0-1 in MIAA Tournament games and this is his first meeting with the Griffons in the MIAA Tourney.
Buzz Verduzco is 582-437 in his 20th year as head coach of the Griffons. He is 30-52 against Emporia State with a 2-4 record in MIAA Tournament meetings.
ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 27-21, 19-14 in the MIAA. They have gone 27-17 after starting the season 0-4. As a team they are batting .266 with 57 home runs. Hornet pitchers have a 4.63 team ERA. Connor Hurst leads Emporia State and is second in the MIAA with 12 home runs and ranks seventh in the league with 45 RBI while Aaron Dees is third in the MIAA with 11 homers and ranks second with a .596 slugging percentage. Tanner Cairns leads the MIAA in complete games, is ranked second in walks allowed per nine innings, and fifth in ERA. The Hornets have a .961 fielding percentage and have turned a nation's best 51 double plays.
SCOUTING THE GRIFFONS
Missouri Western is 20-23, 17-16 in the MIAA. They are batting .266 as a team and have a 4.99 team ERA. Casey Danley is third in the league in home runs and fifth in slugging percentage.
SERIES HISTORY
Emporia State leads the all-time series 107-49 although they have just a 15-12 advantage over the last five seasons. The Hornets lead 4-2 in the MIAA Tournament
LAST AT BAT WITH MO. WESTERN
Every starter either reached base or drove in a run as Emporia State defeated Missouri Western 8-3 in non-conference action.
UP NEXT
The winner plays either UCM or PSU at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday.
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 27-21 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
This is the Hornets 19th straight winning season. Over the last 51 years Emporia State has only had three losing seasons and during one of those seasons they won the MIAA Tourney and hosted an NCAA Regional. The five coaches in that time have all won at least 57% of their games. The Hornets have gone to 14 NCAA Tournaments, two NCAA World Series with a national championship game appearance in 2009 after advancing to seven NAIA World Series 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 28 runs with six homers and 23 RBI this season. He had back to back games with home runs against Washburn. He has committed just six errors in 406 chances this season. He leads the MIAA in putouts and ranks second in total chances. He came to Emporia State after taking a medical redshirt at Mississippi State in 2018.
Second baseman Brian Grove (Sr./River Falls, Wis.) was a second-team All-MIAA selection this year. He is ranked fifth in the MIAA in doubles and stolen bases, sixth in triples and eighth in runs scored. He has a .313 average with 44 runs, 26 RBI, 16 doubles, three triples, five home runs and 17 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/short stop Paul Claassen (Jr./Whitewater, Kan.) was an honorable mention All-MIAA selection at third base. He is batting .308 with 35 runs scored, four home runs, 13 doubles and 33 RBI. He has a team high 18 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.) was the MIAA Gold Glove winner at shortstop. He is fifth the MIAA with 123 assists and has helped turn 27 double plays. He is batting .252 with 29 runs along with two home runs and 14 RBI this season. He has been battling injuries over the last two weeks and has only played in three of the Hornets last nine games heading into the tournament. 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 30 games with 24 starts this season. He has 20 hits with three home runs, ten walks for a .303 on base percentage and eight 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.) was named third-team All-MIAA and was the Gold Glove winner behind the plate. He has thrown out 12 of 28 would be base stealers to lead MIAA catchers in stolen base percentage. He is batting .304 with six home runs, 13 doubles, 29 RBI and 32 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 .321 with three home runs, four doubles, 14 runs scored and 14 RBI in 25 games with 24 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 29 games with 17 starts with two home runs, three doubles and 12 RBI this season. He has reached base safely in five straight games and has five RBI during the streak. 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 13 games with three starts this season. He does not have a hit in 11 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
Right fielder Aaron Dees (Sr./Burlington, Kan.) was named second-team All-MIAA. He is second in the MIAA in slugging percentage and third in home runs. He is batting .311 with 11 home runs, 11 doubles, 37 RBI and a .596 slugging percentage. He transferred to Emporia State from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley after earning first-team All-Jayhawk Conference and first-team All-Region honors at Neosho CC as a sophomore in 2017.
Center fielder Connor Hurst (Jr./Augusta, Kan.) earned third-team All-MIAA honors. He is second in the MIAA in home runs, fifth in slugging percentage, and seventh in RBI. He has 12 home runs, 14 doubles, 45 RBI and a .581 slugging percentage. He is batting .279 and has a .355 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 Mitch Sloan (Sr./Paola, Kan.) has played in 34 games with 29 starts this season. He has scored 19 runs with 15 RBI and has three 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 22 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 15 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.) earned first-team All-MIAA and Gold Glove honors as a starting pitcher. He leads the MIAA in complete games, is ranked second in walks allowed per nine innings, fifth in ERA, sixth in strike out to walk ratio, seventh in WHIP and wins, and eighth in strike outs. He is 5-4 with a 2.76 ERA and a team high 87 strikeouts in 104.1 innings pitched with only 24 walks. He has thrown at least six innings and given up three or fewer earned runs in 11 of his 14 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 the Emporia State career record holed in innings pitched while ranking third in starts, sixth in wins and eighth in career strikeouts.
Right-handed pitcher Jake Barton (Sr./Omaha, Neb.) was an honorable mention All-MIAA pick at starting pitcher. He is seventh in the MIAA in opponents batting average, ERA and wins. He is 5-4 on the season and has thrown 75.1 innings with 71 strikeouts and a 2.99 ERA. He is allowing opponents to hit just .223 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 3-4 with a 6.29 ERA. He has ten starts in 14 appearances. His 54.1 innings pitched and 53 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.) was named honorable mention All-MIAA as a reliever. He is fifth in the MIAA in saves. He has a 2-0 record with five saves in 24 appearances out of the bullpen. He has a 2.60 ERA in 34.2 innings pitched with 31 strikeouts. His 24 relief appearances rank fifth in ESU single season history 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 14 games and has a 1.88 ERA in 14.1 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 1-2 in 15 relief appearances with 27 strike outs in 21.1 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 14 relief appearances with a 5.40 ERA. He has struck out 20 in 28.1 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 4.72 ERA in seven 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 11 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 INNINGS
Right-handed pitcher Adam Thies (Sr./Olathe, Kan.) is 3-1 with a 3.92 ERA, 20 strikeouts and just 12 walks in 20.2 innings of work over 13 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.
Left-handed pitcher Jarrett Seaton (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 Hayden Schaeffer (Jr./Thornton, Colo.) is 1-2 in nine 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.
Right-handed pitcher Trey Taylor (Sr./Paola, Kan.) has battled injuries most of the year and only appeared in six games, five of them prior to March 11. He faced one batter on Senior Day and got a pop out before being relieved. He pitched 16.1 innings in 23 appearances out of the bullpen for the Hornets least and had a 4.96 ERA while picking up four saves and 15 strikeouts.
Right handed pitcher Max Simpson (Sr./Tulsa, Okla.) has appeared in one game this year as he has battled injuries all season. He made 17 appearances with nine starts last year, finishing with a 5.04 ERA in 64.1 innings. He spent two years at Oklahoma State after being named the Jayhawk West Pitcher of the year as a freshman at Hutchinson CC in 2015. He was 7-2 with a 2.37 ERA and 85 strike outs in 60.2 innings for the Blue Dragons.
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.
