Softball | 2/10/2012 11:20:00 AM
ESU Game Notes
START ME UP
Emporia State begins the Julie LeMaire era this weekend at the Incarnate Word Round Robin in San Antonio, Texas. The Hornets will play a total of five games against St. Mary's and Incarnate Word.
TRANSITIONS
On June 20, 2011, Emporia State Director of Athletics Kent Weiser announced that Julie LeMaire would be the ninth head coach of the Hornet softball program. LeMaire spent the previous three seasons as head coach at Ft. Hays State University and took the Tigers to the MIAA Tournament Championship game in 2011. She went 92-76 (.548) in her three seasons in Hays with a 61-43 (.587) mark the past two seasons. The second winningest coach in FHSU history in both total wins and winning percentage, she is the only Tiger coach to put together three straight 30 win seasons. She was 6-6 against ESU while in Hays, including a 6-3 record the last two seasons.
THE?COACHES
Julie LeMaire is in her first season at Emporia State and is 92-76 in three seasons as a head coach. She came to ESU from Ft. Hays State and took the Tigers to the MIAA Tournament Championship game last season.
Donna Fields is 606-254 in her 15th season as the head coach at St. Mary's. She led the Rattlers to the 2002 NCAA Division II National Championship.
Todd Bradley is 60-47 in his third year at Incarnate Word and 153-139 in his seventh year as a head coach at UIW, Pfeiffer and Western Baptist College.
SCOUTING THE RATTLERS
St. Mary's is 1-1 on the year after defeating Eastern New Mexico and falling to #16 Angelo State. The Rattlers are the preseason favorites in the Heartland Conference.
SERIES AGAINST St. MARY'S
Emporia State leads the all-time series with St. Mary's 7-4 after splitting two games last year in San Antonio
LAST TIME VS. St. MARY'S
Abby Smith hit two home runs while Paige Ladenburger and Karley Schmelzer combined for a seven hit shutout in ESU's 5-0 win over St. Mary's. Emily Brittain took the loss for the Rattlers.
SCOUTING THE CARDINALS
Incarnate Word is 2-0 on the season after picking up a pair of wins against UT-Permian Basin and TAMU-International to start the season. Briana Sanchez is the preseason Lone Star Conference Pitcher of the Year.
SERIES AGAINST UIW
Emporia State leads the all-time series with Incarnate Word 8-2 after sweeping a double header in San Antonio last year.
LAST TIME VS. UIW
Tricia Vogel and Kaitlin Martin both homered and Abby Hughes went two for three with two RBI and two runs scored at ESU run-ruled Incarnate Word 10-1 in five innings. Paige Ladenburger picked up the win for the Hornets while Whitney Waltrip took the loss for the Cardinals.
UP NEXT
ESU heads to Durant, Okla. to take part in the Southeastern Shootout.
