Baseball | 3/15/2022 6:05:00 PM
Emporia State Hornets (8-14, 2-7 MIAA)
vs.
Pittsburg State Gorillas (13-7, 8-1 MIAA)
Wednesday, Mar. 16 • 5:00 p.m. • Glennen Field • Emporia, Kan.
Series Record: ESU leads 87-42
Last Meeting: PSU 9, ESU 7 (5/8/21)
The MIAA Network •
Live Stats
Up Next: Northwest Missouri • Mar. 18-20, 2022
Emporia, Kan.
SPRING BREAK SPECIAL
Emporia State plays host to Pittsburg State in a midweek spring break game on Wednesday from Glennen Field. It is the first of three midweek MIAA games between the two.
LAST AT BAT
The Hornets were swept in a three game set by last year's National Runner-Up Central Missouri. Emporia State lost both games of the Sunday doubleheader, falling 12-2 and 10-5. In the series finale, the Hornets pushed the Mules to the edge in a 4-3 loss.
THE COACHES
Seth Wheeler is in his fourth season as the Hornets head coach and enters with a 66-68 record through three-plus seasons at the helm. He is 5-5 against Pittsburg State.
Bob Fornelli is 88-52 in his fourth season at Pittsburg State. He is 993-431 in his 26th year as a head coach including a 599-266 record in 15 years at Emporia State. He is 5-5 against the Hornets at Pittsburg State and was 13-2 against the Hornets while at Ft. Hays State.
ABOUT THE HORNETS
The Hornets are 8-14, 2-7 on the season. The Emporia State offense is led by four hitters that post a batting average of .300 or above.
Noah Geekie leads the way with a .400 batting average and
TJ Racherbaumer is close behind batting .396. They are joined above .300 by
Sam Chaput and
Blake Carroll who are batting .341 and .310 respectively. Chaput and Carroll lead the Hornets with four home runs each while being second with five doubles each.
SCOUTING THE GORILLAS
Pittsburg State is 13-7, 8-1 on the season The Gorillas have a host of players with an average above .300 and are led by Jordan Maxson who posts a .456 batting average with an OPS above 1.400. Maxson has a team-high eight doubles and is second on the team with 10 home runs and 29 RBI. On the mound Pitt State is led by starters Zach Curry and Peyton Ingalls who have each started six games. The Gorillas bullpen is highlighted by Zach Nagel who has a 2-0 record in 10 appearances over 16.1 innings. He has 20 strikeouts and a 2.70 ERA.
SERIES HISTORY
Emporia State leads the all-time series 87-42 and have won four of the last six meetings.
LAST TIME AGAINST PSU
Last season, Emporia State took a trip to Pittsburg for the final regular season series. The Hornets took the first two games of the series 11-10 and 11-4 as part of a Friday doubleheader. In the series finale, the Hornets nearly clinched a sweep before the Gorillas managed two runs in the eighth and took the game 9-7.
UP NEXT
Emporia State will stay home for a three game weekend series against Northwest Missouri. Game one in Trusler is set for 5:00 p.m. on Friday, game two is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on Saturday and the final game of the series will be on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
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