Softball | 3/24/2012 11:21:00 PM
LEADERS AT THE TURN
With eight conference games down and ten to play after Saturday, Emporia State plays host to #9 Missouri Western in a battle of the only teams currently undefeated in MIAA play.
LAST AT BAT
The Emporia State softball team earned a split with #23 West Texas in a double header that saw a total of 45 runs and 53 hits in Canyon, Texas on Wednesday. ESU won game one 19-11 in eight innings before falling 12-3 in five innings in the night cap. In the matinee the Hornets scored three in the first when Tricia Vogel hit a two RBI double and later stole home. ESU added single runs in the second and third, only to be matched by four WT runs in the second and another in the third. The Lady Buffs took their first lead with two in the fifth before ESU answered with four in the sixth. WT sent the game to extra innings with two in the bottom of the sixth. ESU exploded for ten runs around a 30 minute rain delay in the eighth, highlighted by a grand slam from Kendra Gifford on the first pitch after the delay. In the nightcap Andrea Piezuch and Jennifer Gragg homered in the first and second and Amanda Self hit an RBI single in the third before WT scored three in the third, four in the fourth and five in the fifth to secure the run rule win.
THE?COACHES
Julie LeMaire is 17-7 in her first season at Emporia State and is 109-84 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 1-7 against Missouri Western while at FHSU.
Jen Bagley is 360-232 in her 11th year at MWSU. She is 9-25 against ESU.
SCOUTING MISSOURI WESTERN
The Griffons are 25-4 on the year, 8-0 in the MIAA and ranked #9 in this week's NFCA National Poll. They have won 11 straight since a 3-0 loss to Quincy on March 6 in St. Joseph. Maegan Roemmich is batting .404 with two home runs and 15 RBI. Keri Lorbert is batting .312 with three homers and 27 RBI. Jackie Bishop is 13-1 with a 0.98 ERA adn 131 strikeouts in 92.0 innings pitched while Annalee Rubio is 10-3 with a 2.01 ERA.
SERIES AGAINST THE GRIFFS
ESU leads the all-time series 48-25. The Hornets have won seven of the last ten meetings and 16 of the last 20 games between the two. They have met 12 times in the MIAA Tournament with ESU holding an 8-4 advantage.
LAST TIME VS. MWSU
ESU earned a split in the double header and moved a game in front of MWSU in the MIAA standings with four games left with a 3-2 win over the Griffons in St. Joseph last season. Jessica Brewer's RBI single off of Jackie Bishop scored Andrea Piezuch for the game winner in the sixth inning. Jennifer Heerey got the win, allowing two runs - one earned - on four hits while Karley Schmelzer worked a perfect seventh for the save.
COMMON OPPONENTS
MWSU and ESU have played the same four opponents to open MIAA play. They have three common opponents in non-league play with ESU holding a 3-0 record against them while MWSU is 2-2.
UP NEXT
ESU plays host to the softball edition of the Turnpike Tussle on March 30 at Trusler. First pitch against Washburn next Friday is set for 2 p.m.
