BASEBALL SEASON STARTS ON SUNDAY FOR EMPORIA STATE AT THE EDMOND FIRST PITCH CLASSIC

Baseball | 2/4/2022 10:43:00 PM

Emporia State Baseball
in the Edmond First Pitch Classic
vs. Northern State
Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022 • 6:00 p.m. • Edmond, Okla. • Wendell Simmons Field
vs. Southwestern Oklahoma
Monday, Feb. 7, 2022 • 12:00 p.m. • Edmond, Okla. • Wendell Simmons Field
vs. Oklahoma Baptist
Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022 • 11:00 a.m. • Edmond, Okla. • Wendell Simmons Field
 
Emporia State will open the 2022 season at the Edmond First Pitch Classic in Edmond, Okla. Originally scheduled to go for three days starting on Friday, the classic will now run Sunday through Monday.
 
The first game for Emporia State will be against Northern State of the NSIC on Saturday night at 6:00 p.m. The Hornet will then make a quick turnaround and play Southwestern Oklahoma from the GAC on Monday at 12 noon. The final game will be against another GAC team in Oklahoma Baptist at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday.
 
The Hornets return seven players that started at least 16 games last season along with two starting pitchers and their second most used reliever.

The returning starters are led by Blake Carroll who was a third-team All-MIAA performer last year as a utility player. Carroll was second in the MIAA and third in the nation with seven triples and is tied for fourth on the Emporia State single season triples list. The senior from Wichita, Kan. hit .275 with six homers, six doubles, 22 RBI, and 33 runs scored on the year and stole nine bases in ten attempts. He started the last nine games in the outfield after starting 27 games at short stop and six games at second base last season.

Sam Chaput was second in the MIAA in sac flies last year.  The senior outfielder from Boisbriand, Quebec hit .335 last season with three home runs, seven doubles, 26 RBI and 31 runs scored. 
 
Chandler Bloomer hit .300 with five home runs, seven doubles, 28 RBI and 31 runs scored last year.  The senior first baseman from Ottawa, Kan. was tenth in the MIAA in put outs with 305 last season.

Noah Geekie hit .262 with three home runs, five doubles, a triple, 19 RBI and 24 runs scored as an outfielder last season. He made two appearances out of the bullpen last year and is expected to have more of a presence on the mound this season

Jared Kengott was tenth in the MIAA with 74 strikeouts last year.  The senior from Addison, Texas 3-7 last year with a 5.92 ERA He had 74 strikeouts and just 27 walks in 65.1 innings pitched.

Zachary Ebert had 40 strikeouts in 28.2 innings pitched with just 15 walks. The senior from Topeka, Kan. was the main midweek starter with five starts on the season and nine relief appearances.

Jarrett Seaton made 17 appearances out of the bullpen last year.  The senior from Omaha, Neb. had two saves and went 1-2 overall.