EMPORIA, Kan. — Missouri Western Baseball takes on Emporia State in a weekend series at the Trusler Sports Complex in a series that will define both team's chances of making the MIAA Tournament, as both teams are just on the outside looking in.
KEEPING UP WITH THE GRIFFONS
Fans that wish to watch the games can navigate to the baseball schedule and click the "Watch" tab and purchase a subscription to the MIAA Network if they have not done so.
RACE TO THE MIAA TOURNAMENT
The Griffons (11-29, 8-19 MIAA) are just three games back out of seventh place in the MIAA and can start making up ground this weekend with a series win against the Hornets (16-27, 10-17 MIAA), who sit in ninth place in the MIAA. A sweep for the Griffons would do wonders in their quest to crack the top eight in the league and qualify for postseason play.
MAKING GOOD DECISIONS AT THE DISH
The Griffons only struck out two times against Maryville last time out. They led deep into the ninth inning against the Saints, who were receiving votes at the time in both national polls, thanks to three hits from
Will Courtney and
Jackson Bryant. Courtney drove in two runs, and the Griffons took the Saints all the way to the final bell.
SCOUTING EMPORIA STATE: APRIL 21-23
The Hornets (16-27, 10-17 MIAA) are led a pair of hitters that are batting over .300 and three players that have an OPS over .800. Emporia State is just one game back of the Newman Jets, who currently sit in the final playoff spot for the MIAA. The Hornets have only been involved in one game that didn't go all nine innings, a 10-0 loss against Washburn. Emporia recently has lost two games in a row, falling to Washburn 7-6 last Sunday and then to Oklahoma Baptist 23-17 on Tuesday.
Who to Watch
Noah Geekie leads the Hornets with a .352 batting average, and Chandler Bloomer has the most hits on the team with 40. Geekie and Bloomer are the only two ESU players that are batting over .300 for the Hornets that have at least 75% of games played and two batting attempts per game. Beyond that, only four Hornets are batting above .200. Patryk Hernandez and Palmer Hutchison lead ESU with six home runs this season.
First Pitch Times
Friday: 6 p.m.
Saturday: 2 p.m.
Sunday: 1 p.m.
Probable MWSU Pitchers
Probable ESU Pitchers
- Sophomore RHP Ian Lanik: 4-5, 4.25 ERA, 59.1 IP
- Senior LHP Noah Geekie: 5-3, 5.26 ERA, 63.1 IP
- Junior LHP Graham Brunner: 1-4, 8.35 ERA, 46.1 IP
