Washburn (18-21, 16-17 MIAA) vs No. 4 Emporia State (35-6, 31-5 MIAA)
Date: April 29-30
Time: Friday - 4 p.m. / Saturday - 3 p.m.
Rankings: Washburn (none); Emporia State (No. 4 Collegiate Baseball)
Location: Friday - Topeka, Kan. / Saturday - Emporia, Kan.
Field: Falley Field (800) / Glennen Field
Live Stats: www.wusports.com on Saturday use www.emporia.edu/athletics

Complete weekly notes

Leading Off
Washburn (18-21, 16-17 MIAA) will square off with fourth-ranked Emporia State (35-6, 31-5 MIAA) in the baseball edition of the Turnpike Tussle this weekend. The series starts with a doubleheader on Friday in Topeka at 4 p.m. and concludes on Saturday with a doubleheader in Emporia at 3 p.m.

The Series
Washburn and Emporia State have met 191 times on the diamond with the Hornets holding an 135-55 advantage in the series. ESU took three out of four from the 'Bods last season, sweeping the doubleheader in Emporia before splitting the DH in Topeka. Washburn is 32-90 against Emporia State under Steve Anson.

Washburn
The Ichabods won a non-conference game against Rockhurst 4-1 on Wednesday night to improve to 18-21 overall. Washburn took three out of four games from NW Missouri State over the weekend to jump into sixth place in the MIAA standings. WU swept Friday's doubleheader 6-3 and 6-0 behind outstanding pitching performances from  Brett Ash and Derek Fogel. Both pitchers turned in complete games to lead Washburn. The 'Bods took game three 2-1 and were primed for the first four-game MIAA sweep since a sweep of the Bearcats in 2009 only to see NWMSU plate two runs in the ninth inning and rally to take the finale 3-2. With the three wins over the Bearcats, Washburn now has a 1.5 games lead over Northwest Missouri for the sixth and final spot in the MIAA postseason tournament.
The Ichabods are batting .268 as a team and are led by Marcus Peavler's .333 average. Three players are batting .300 or better. Tyler Bean leads the team with seven home runs, while Andy Petz's 36 RBIs is the team-high.
Brett Ash leads the pitching staff with five wins and has won four consecutive decisions. Derek Fogel is 4-4 with a team-low 3.66 ERA. The staff ERA sits at 4.99 and Ichabod pitchers have struck out 191 batters in 295.2 innings.

Emporia State
The Hornets enter the week at 35-6 overall and 31-5 in MIAA play and ranked number four in the nation after splitting a four-game series at Central Missouri last weekend.
The Hornets are batting .334 as a team and are led by Dillon Hazlett's .437 average. He also leads the team with 21 doubles, three triples and is tied for the team lead with 35 RBIs. Eight players are batting .314 or better. Joe Vaskas is hitting .336 and leads the team with 10 home runs and is tied with Hazlett with 35 RBIs. ESU has 137 extra-base hits compared to 86 for opponents.
Emporia State's team ERA sits at 4.62 with Michael Cotter sporting a team-low 1.10 ERA in 14 relief appearances. Cotter also leads the team with 13 saves. Brandon Faulkner leads the team with seven pitching wins in 10 starts. Hornet pitchers have struck out 204 batters in 327 innings, while holding opposing hitters to a .283 average. 10 different ESU pitchers have recorded wins.

Emporia State coach Bob Fornelli
Hornet head coach Bob Fornelli is in his eighth season leading the ESU program where he has compiled a 342-125 record. His career record in his 13th season as a head coach stands at 648-238. Fornelli is a 1991 graduate of ESU.

Anson Approaching 800
Steve Anson has 799 career wins in his 33rd season as a head coach, including 776 wins in his 32 seasons at Washburn. That victory total places him 10th on the all-time NCAA-II wins list among active coaches. Anson has the most wins among active MIAA coaches.

Last Time out for Washburn
April 27, 2011 - TOPEKA, Kan. -- The Washburn Ichabods topped Rockhurst 4-1 in non-conference action on Wednesday evening at Falley Field. The Ichabods are back in action this weekend hosting Emporia State on Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. for an MIAA doubleheader.
The 'Bods (18-21) scored a pair of runs in the second inning to grab the lead they would never relinquish. Ben Wilson doubled with two outs and scored when Travis Cruz singled to left field. Cruz then stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error before scoring on a Cameron Kasel RBI single.
WU extended the lead to 4-0 with two more runs in the sixth. Dane Simoneau doubled and scored on a two-run home run to left by David Wade. It was Wade's sixth home run of the season.
Rockhurst (19-20) avoided the shutout with a single run in the seventh. Drew Daubman singled and advanced to second and third on passed balls. He scored on a Mike Garza infield single.
The Ichabods got a solid pitching performance from a number of pitchers as the 'Bods used nine total in the game. Mitchell List (3-2) earned the win tossing a perfect second inning. He followed starter Joey Hinckley who threw a perfect first inning. Eric Schmid struck out two batters during a perfect third. Kerry Schachenmeyer picked up his second save of the season pitching the ninth allowing one hit.
Nick Lichtenberger (1-1) took the loss for the Hawks after giving up four runs on six hits in six innings.

April 23, 2011 - TOPEKA, Kan. -- The Washburn Ichabods split an MIAA doubleheader with Northwest Missouri State on Saturday afternoon at Falley Field. Washburn took the opener 2-1 before falling 3-2 in the nightcap. The Ichabods took three out of four in the series and now hold a 1.5 game lead on the Bearcats for the sixth and final spot in the MIAA postseason tournament.
The Bearcats (17-25, 16-20 MIAA) jumped in front 1-0 in the second inning of game one, but the Ichabods responded with two runs in the fourth to grab the lead for good. Andy Petz doubled to lead off the inning and scored on a triple by Dane Simoneau. David Wade then brought home Simoneau with the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly to centerfield.
Alex Coons (2-1) tossed a complete game four-hitter for Washburn (17-21, 16-17 MIAA). Coons walked two and struck out four to earn the win.
Josh Parrish (1-1) took the loss for NWMSU after giving up two runs on four hits in five innings.
The Ichabods jumped on top 2-0 in the first inning of game two. Andy Petz walked with two outs and Dane Simoneau belted his third home run of the season.
The Bearcats got one run back in the seventh on a Charlie Krueger RBI double to pull to within 2-1. Krueger then smacked a two-run home run in the top of the ninth to give Northwest Missouri State a 3-2 lead.
Raul Guevara (1-4) took the loss giving up two runs on two hits in 0.1 innings of relief. Daren Parker had a no decision after giving up one run on four hits in 6.1 innings to start the game.
Jayson Huett (6-6) earned the win in relief for the Bearcats. He tossed 4.1 innings of scoreless relief. He allowed one hit and walked one.
The Ichabods are back in action on Tuesday afternoon with a doubleheader at Fort Hays State at 2 p.m.

Last Time out for Emporia State
ESU Sports Info. - April 23, 2011 - WARRENSBURG, Mo. -- April 23, 2011 -- After taking the first two games of the series on Friday, the #3 Emporia State baseball team dropped two games today at #4 Central Missouri. The Hornets dropped the first game 5-2 and fell in the second game by a score of 12-8.
In game one ESU trailed 5-0 early before rebounding to get two runs in the final three, but it wasn't enough as the Mules outlasted them 5-2. ESU outhit UCM in the game as the Hornets finished with eight hits to only seven by the Mules. Joe Kornbrust went three for three with one RBI. Jacob White went two for two in the game with one run driven in.
Spencer Blades pitched 3.2 innings in the game and earned his first losee of the season. David Holman allowed only two hits while striking out two voer 2.1 innings of relief work.
In game two ESU jumped out to a 3-0 lead, but gave up eight runs to UCM in the bottom of third inning as they earned the 12-8 win over the Hornets. ESU outhit UCM 20-14 but stranded 13 runners on base while the Mules only stranded six.
At the plate Parker Amos went three for five and drove in two runs. Jacob White, Andy Cotton, Dillon Hazlett, David Allbritton and Travis Whipple all finished with three hits a piece. Cotton added two RBI as White, Allbritton, Whipple and Joe Vaskas added single RBI for the Hornets.
Boaz Beard started the game and pitched 2.1 innings in the loss. Casey Lippoldt was the only Hornets reliever to not allow a run as he pitched one inning and struck out two.
The Hornet who are now 35-6, 31-5 in the MIAA maintain a two game lead over #4 Central Missouri in the MIAA standings. ESU will next be on the field on April 29 when they travel to Washburn for a (7/9) doubleheader scheduled for 4 p.m. from Falley Field in Topeka, Kan.

Ichabod Player Notes
#1 • Eric Schmid • RHP • R-Fr. • Has allowed three runs in 0.2 innings of relief
#2 • Blake Boling • OF • Sr. • Scored five runs and drove in five during the Lincoln series
#4 • Daren Parker • LHP • Jr. • 11th in MIAA with 4.07 ERA
#5 • Boone Plager • IF • Jr. • Scored the winning run in 1-0 win over Fort Hays State
#7 • Dane Simoneau • IF • Sr. • Hit .500 with three doubles, a triple and home run last week
#8 • Cameron Kasel • C • Sr. • Hit first home run of the season against NW Missouri State
#9 • Alex Coons • RHP • Sr. • Tossed his second complete-game of the season in win over NW Missouri State
#12 • Shawn Moore • RHP • Sr. • Has given up nine runs in 1.2 innings of relief work
#14 • Jeremy Heeke • RHP • Sr. • Has given up three runs on seven hits in two innings of relief
#15 • Drew Mikkelson • RHP • Sr. • Has allowed nine runs on 13 hits in 8.1 innings of relief
#16 • Raul Guevara • RHP • Sr. • Tossed a complete game in win over Southwest Baptist
#18 • Derek Fogel • LHP • Fr. • Seventh in the MIAA with a 3.66 ERA
#20 • Blake Hageman • IF • Jr. • Batting .213 with a pair of doubles and five RBI
#21 • Matt Raabe • IF • Sr. • Was 2-for-9 at the plate during the Lincoln series
#22 • Travis Cruz • OF • Sr. • 16-for-38 during current nine game hitting streak
#23 • Tyler Bean • IF • Jr. • Tied for third in the MIAA with seven home runs
#25 • Brian Gomez • IF • Sr. • Batting .273 with one double and two RBI in 15 games played
#26 • Seth Huninghake • RHP • Jr. • Has allowed one run on two hits in three innings of relief work
#27 • Joey Hinckley • RHP • Jr. • Has allowed eight runs on 18 hits in 14.1 innings pitched
#28 • Kerry Schachenmeyer • RHP • Jr. • Tossed three scoreless innings of relief against Fort Hays State
#29 • Vince Liberatore • C • So. • Is 0-for-1 at the plate so far this season
#30 • Marcus Peavler • OF • Jr. • Has three game-winning RBIs on the season
#32 • Xavier Lewis • LHP • Jr. • Tossed 6.1 innings of two-hit ball in 3-0 win over Rockhurst
#33 • Mitchell List • LHP • Sr. • Is 3-2 with a 6.10 ERA in nine relief appearances
#34 • TJ Lorson • C/1B • Jr. • Junior from Topeka has appeared eight games with seven plate appearances
#35 • Alex Mitts • IF • R-Fr. • Batting .107 in 28 plate appearances
#36 • Andy Petz • C/1B • Sr. • Leads team and second in the MIAA with 36 RBIs
#37 • Brett Ash • RHP • So. • 12th in MIAA with five wins and 14th in ERA
#39 • Brent Matile • C • R-Fr. • Is 0-for-1 in his only at-bat of the season
#40 • David Wade • IF • Sr. • Belted his sixth home run of the season against Rockhurst on Wednesday
#41 • Ben Wilson • IF • Jr. • Hit his first career home run against Southwest Baptist
#42 • Wyatt Hall • IF/OF • Jr. • Was 1-for-7 with two RBI and a run scored in the Lincoln series

Up Next
The Ichabods travel to Fort Hays State on Tuesday to play a postponed doubleheader with the Tigers. The game has been postponed twice due to wet weather and is slated for a 2 p.m. start at Larks Park in Hays.
Washburn will host Pittsburg State next Saturday and Sunday to conclude the regular season schedule. Saturday's doubleheader will begin at noon with Sundays twinbill slated for a noon start. Washburn's seniors will be recognized between games on Sunday.
If Washburn advances to the MIAA postseason tournament, the 'Bods will play on Thursday May 12 at Community America Ballpark in Kansas City, Kan.