Softball | 3/21/2012 12:41:00 PM
DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS
The Hornets travel to Canyon, Texas to take on #23 West Texas A&M in a game originally scheduled to be played in Oklahoma City.
LAST AT BAT
Emporia State pounded out 20 hits in a St. Patrick's Day sweep of Northwest Missouri on Saturday at the Trusler Sports Complex in Emporia. The Hornets won game one 7-2 and picked up an 8-0 run rule win in the night cap. Tricia Vogel was three for four with three RBI while Goodwin went two for two with two runs scored and an RBI in the first game. Karley Schmelzer picked up her seventh win of the year, scattering eight hits with three walks while striking out ten. Vogel was two for four with four RBI and a run scored on the grand slam in game two. Reichard went two for two with three RBI and a run scored as well. Lauren Sharp moved to 3-2 on the year with her first shut out of the year. She only allowed three hits with three walks and two strikeouts.
THE?COACHES
Julie LeMaire is 16-6 in her first season at Emporia State and is 108-83 in her fourth season as a head coach. She came to ESU from Ft. Hays State and took the Tigers to the MIAA Tournament Championship game last season. She was 2-3 against West Texas while at FHSU.
Kevin Blaskowski is 200-189 in his seventh year at West Texas and 552-467 in his 20th year as a head coach. A former women's basketball assistant at ESU, he is 2-1 against the Hornets at West Texas and 7-10 against ESU in his career as a head coach.
SCOUTING WEST TEXAS
The Lady Buffs are 19-8 on the season, 5-4 in the Lone Star Conference and ranked #23 in this week's NFCA National Poll. As a team West Texas ranks in the top 20 nationally in scoring, home runs, triples, and slugging percentage. Kim LeComte is batting .407 with six homers, 25 RBI and 27 runs scored. Meghan Brown is batting .391 with nine homers, 35 RBI and 19 runs scored. They have a team ERA of 3.86 led by Marci Womack at 2.51 with a 9-4 record.
SERIES AGAINST THE BUFFS
This is just the fifth and sixth meetings between the two schools with WT leading 3-1 all-time. They first met in 1981 before the Lady Buffs discontinued the program for 24 years. This is the first time the two will meet on one of their home fields, with the previous four all at neutral sites.
LAST TIME VS. WEST TEXAS
The two teams split a double header in Oklahoma City with ESU winning game one 3-1 and WTAMU taking the nightcap 2-1. Abby Hughes two RBI single gave the Horents the win in game one as Karley Schmelzer allowed one run on four hits with nine strikeouts. Hughes scored the only run for ESU in the second game as she reached base on an error, stole third and scored on another error. Jen Heerey took the loss, giving up just one earned run on seven hits and five walks while striking out seven
UP NEXT
ESU returns to MIAA action on Saturday when they play host to #9 Missouri Western with first place in the MIAA on the line. First pitch of the double header on Turnbull Field in the Trusler Sports Complex is set for 1:00 p.m.
