When the MIAA schedule-makers put together the conference slate for 2009, they probably didn’t realize they were doing Emporia State any favors.
But when Emporia State travels to Missouri Southern today, it will be the Hornets’ first conference game in nine days. For the ESU pitching staff, the break could not have come at a better time.
Emporia State’s starting rotation has been nursing several key injuries that have healed up over the break. Ryan Anthony, who will start today’s game, got a cut on the index finger of his throwing hand on April 15 against Pittsburg State. Anthony had a no-hitter going that day but pitched only five innings.
Other than a couple of bullpen sessions, Anthony has been resting his arm and pitching hand since.
“My arm thinks it’s good for me,” he said. “Hopefully, I’ll still be able to hit my spots and get ahead.”
The break has also been good for Ben Graham. Graham returned on April 7 against Pitt State after missing 18 days because of a shoulder injury. He’s appeared in three games since — including two innings on Tuesday against Sterling — but he has not been at full strength.
“It’s just a confidence thing right now with me coming off my injury,” Graham said. “I’m afraid to go 100 percent, because I might re-injure myself, and it’s a big confidence thing really.”
Before the injury, Graham was the ace of the Hornets staff. ESU coach Bob Fornelli decided to move him down in the rotation this weekend, and he will start on the finale of the four-game series on Sunday. Tyler Applehans and Colby Killian will start Saturday’s doubleheader.
Don’t expect Graham to stay in the No. 4 slot for long, because he said he plans to quit holding back on Sunday.
“We’re just trying to give him as much time as we can with that little injury,” Fornelli said. “He’s starting to come around. I know he didn’t throw as well as he’d like to in the fourth inning (on Tuesday), but he’s going to be a big factor in the long run.”
The ESU pitching staff should get a good test to see if the rest paid off against the Lions. Missouri Southern (29-15, 19-9) leads the MIAA with a .343 team batting average. The Lions need just one win in their final series this weekend to qualify for the conference tournament, which is made up of only the top four teams.
“People haven’t talked about Missouri Southern a lot because they haven’t done a lot in the conference,” Fornelli said.” Right now, they’re playing really well. They’re one of the best teams. ... If we go there and don’t play well, we’ll get beat four times.”
The Hornets will clinch their second straight regular season championship if they’re able to win three of four this weekend. With eight games left, Emporia State (38-6, 25-3) needs only three wins to guarantee the conference title. Nebraska-Omaha and Central Missouri, who square off this weekend, are in second and third, and ESU could win the regular season title with fewer than three wins if one of those two teams does not win out.