Softball | 3/29/2012 1:07:00 PM
TURNPIKE TUSSLE
The softball version of the Turnpike Tussle comes to the Trusler Sports Complex as #25 Emporia State plays host to Washburn.
LAST AT BAT
Tricia Vogel went four for six and drove in five of Emporia State’s ten runs in the Hornets double header sweep of #9 Missouri Western. ESU won game one 5-2 and took the nightcap 5-4 to take over sole possession of first place in the MIAA. The Griffons got on board with a run in the top of the third inning. The Hornets responded with a three run homer from Vogel in the bottom of the inning. Stephanie Goodwin gave the Hornets a pair of insurance runs in the fifth with a home run. Karley Schmelzer scattered nine hits over 7.0 innings, struck out seven and had one walk to pick up her eighth win of the season. MWSU got ahead early again in the nightcap taking a 2-0 lead in the third. Taylor Reichard started the Hornet come back with a lead off homer in the fifth and tied it when Zordel scored on a ground ball. Vogel broke the tie with a two RBI single and Self made it 5-2 with a sac fly. The Griffons scored two in the seventh before Schmelzer pitched the final .2 innings to pick up her second save of the year. Laurne Sharp allowed four runs, three of them earned on seven hits in 6.1 innings to earn her fifth win.
THE?COACHES
Julie LeMaire is 19-7 in her first season at Emporia State and is 111-84 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 4-3 against Washburn while at FHSU.
Vanessa Becerra is 11-13 in her first year at Washburn and 45-31 in her second season overall as a head coach. This is her first meeting with ESU.
SCOUTING WASHBURN
The Lady Blues are 13-13 overall and 5-3 in the MIAA after starting the season 1-7 in Oklahoma and Texas. They have won seven in a row and eight of their last nine games. Kacy Covert is batting .411 with 11 runs and five RBI while Lindsey Moore is hitting .333 with four homers and 19 RBI and is 5-4 with a 4.38 ERA in the circle. Kayla Oldham is 6-7 with a 3.28 ERA in the circle. WU batters lead the MIAA in hit by pitch on the season and have been called for a league high five illegal pitches with runners on base this season.
SERIES AGAINST THE BLUES
ESU leads WU 74-53-1 and has won 24 straight games against the Lady Blues. The Hornets have not lost to the Lady Blues since a 4-3 loss on April 20, 2005 in Topeka. The last Emporia State loss to Washburn in the Trusler Sports Complex was a 10-7 decision in game two when they split a double header on March 16, 2004.
LAST TIME VS. WU
The Hornets swept the Lady Blues in a double header at the WU Softball Complex. Abby Hughes went three for four with three runs and three RBI for ESU in a 9-0 run rule win in the first game. Kaitlin Martin hit a solo homer for the only runs ESU would need in the second game a 3-0 Hornet win. Karley Schmelzer got a win and a save on the day, tossing a three hit shutout in the first game and working two hitless innings for the save in the night cap.
UP NEXT
ESU continues their home stand with a double header against Ft. Hays State in the Trusler Sports Complex on Saturday. First pitch on Applebee's Autograph Day is set for 12 noon. Posters will be available after the double header in the dugout of Turnbull Field.
