Emporia State Hornets (10-3, 4-3 MIAA)
vs. #19 Washburn Ichabods (14-0, 8-0 MIAA)
March 13 & 15, 2015 • 4:00 p.m. /12:00 p.m. • Glennen Field/Trusler • Emporia, Kan.
March 14, 2015 • 2:00 p.m. • Falley Field • Topeka, Kan.
Series Record: ESU leads 163-70-1
Last Meeting: at ESU 3, WU 2 (5/3/2014-MIAA Tourney)
Radio: none Internet Audio: none
Live Stats in Emporia •
Live Stats in Topeka Complete Notes in pdfUp Next: at Northeastern State • March 20-22, 2015 • Rousey Field • Tahlequah, Okla.
TURNPIKE TUSSLE
The Hornets take on #19 Washburn in a true Turnpike Tussle series. The team will play single game on Friday and Sunday in Emporia and a double header on Saturday in Topeka.
LAST AT BAT
For the third straight game Emporia State came from behind after the fourth inning, this time in a 12-8 win over Colorado School of Mines in Hays, Kan. The Orediggers were leading 4-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth when Evan Koehler got the Hornets on the board with a two run single. Emporia State took the lead for good with a five run sixth that started with back to back doubles by Dalton Wheat and Wade Hanna and the scoring ended with a two RBI single from Dean Long. Colorado Mines got a run back in the top of the seventh before Emporia State put another five spot on the board in the bottom fo the seventh. Long had the big hit again, delivering a two RBI double. Mines scored three runs in the ninth for the final 12-8 score. Justin Harris was four for five with an RBI, three runs scored and two doubles. Long was two for four with four RBI and Levi Parker went three for four with three runs scored. The Hornets used seven pitchers by design with Jacob Tetuan getting credit for the win.
THE COACHES
Bob Fornelli is Bob Fornelli is 455-197 in his 12th season at Emporia State and is 761-310 overall in his 19th year as a four year head coach. He is the fourth winningest active coach in NCAA Division II and is 15th in total victories. He has led Emporia State to two Division II World Series appearances in nine NCAA Tournaments. Fornelli has taken teams to the NCAA Tournament 14 times, and was the national runner-up in 2009 with Emporia State and in 2000 while at Ft. Hays State.
Harley Douglas is 14-0 in his first season at Washburn.
ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 10-3 on the season, 4-3 in the MIAA. In the latest NCAA statistics the Hornets are leading the nation in home runs and are leading the MIAA with 19 in 12 games. They are leading the league in stolen bases and are third in batting average. Dean Long is leading the MIAA with seven home runs. Justin Harris is tied for the MIAA lead with 12 stolen bases. Garrett Brummett is 3-0 on the bound with a 1.50 ERA and 23 strikeouts with just one walk.
SCOUTING THE ICABODS
Washburn is 14-0 on the year and 8-0 in the MIAA after sweeping Southwest Baptist and Pittsburg State. Riley Crane is batting .512 with a .907 slugging percentage. Mike Hefferan is 2-0 with a 1.00 ERA in four starts.
THE SERIES
Saturday will be the 235th meeting between the Hornets and Ichabods with Emporia State leading the series 163-70-1.
LAST AT BAT VS. WASHBURN
Jordan Hodges RBI double in the bottom of the eighth gave Emporia State a 3-2 win over Washburn in the deciding game of their 2014 MIAA Opening Round Series at Trusler. The Hornets got on the board first with an unearned run in the third inning. Dakota McKaskle took a no hitter into the sixth inning for Emporia State when Washburn finally got on the board. He gave up two runs before Brenton Higgins came on in relief and got a strike out and fly out around a hit batter to get out of the inning.
Dean Long tied the game for the Hornets with an RBI single in the seventh. The Hornets took the lead in the bottom of the eighth when Hodges drilled a double to left and allowed Aaron Gile to score the go ahead run. Higgins then worked a perfect ninth to record his sixth win Higgins matched his longest outing of the year, throwing 3.2 shutout innings with one hit and two strikeouts.
He's a winner
Emporia State head baseball coach Bob Fornelli has 761 career wins and is 455-197 (.698) in his 12th season at Emporia State. Fornelli is the second winningest coach by percentage at Emporia State behind Dave Bingham (557-223, .714 in 14 years) and the third winningest coach by victories behind Bingham and Brian Embery (458-320, .589 in 15 years). Last year was the Hornets ninth trip to the NCAA Tournament in 11 years and he has twice led Emporia State to the Division II World Series, in 2006 and 2009. He has taken teams to the NCAA Tournament in 14 of his first 18 years as a collegiate coach.
Fornelli, a 1991 graduate of Emporia State, spent seven years at Ft. Hays State where he compiled a 306-113 record and led the Tigers to the NCAA Division II national championship game in 2000 and was in the NCAA regional tournament six times.
Prior to his time in Hays, Fornelli was the pitching coach at Butler County Community College in El Dorado, Kan., from 1991 until 1996. During his tenure the Grizzlies were 195-86 and finished third in the NJCAA World Series in 1994.
Fornelli, a native of Lenexa, Kan., was an honorable mention All-Central States Intercollegiate Conference catcher for the Hornets as a senior after transferring from BCCC. He is married to the former Jill Harris of Madison, Kan. The couple has three daughters - Emma, Rylie and Addison.
POWER AND LIGHT DISTRICT
Emporia State is leading the MIAA with 19 home runs and 40 stolen bases in the latest conference statistics. Eight Hornets have hit a home run with five players having more than one. Dean Long leads the MIAA with seven home runs and has a .922 slugging percentage on the year. Nine Hornets have stolen a base and four player have at least five steals. Justin Harris is 12 of 14 in stolen bases and is batting .480 with a .542 on base percentage.
MOUND PRESENCE
Emporia State's starting pitchers have 61 strike outs with just 13 walks in 64.1 innings. Last season the Hornet pitching staff was third in the nation in strikeout to walk ratio with 427 K's and only 132 base on balls. Garrett Brummett is 3-0 with a 1.50 ERA in 18.0 innings. He has 23 strike outs and just one walk on the season. Travis Hendry is 2-1 with a 1.80 ERA in a team high 20.0 innings pitched. Shawn Talkington is 2-1 with a 4.91 ERA in 18.1 innings. Jarrod Miller rounds out the starters with a 1-0 record and 3.38 ERA. Garrett Bane has three saves out of the bullpen.
ON DECK
The Hornets travel to Tahlequah, Okla. next weekend to take on Northeastern State in a four game MIAA series. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
