Softball | 5/2/2012 4:57:00 PM
CHAMPIONSHIP TIME
The #17 Emporia State Hornets open play in their ninth straight and tenth overall NCAA Tournament with a match up against Abilene Christian in Edmond, Okla. ESU is 29-19 overall in their nine previous NCAA Tournament appearances.
LAST AT BAT
Emporia State came from behind twice to defeat #21 Missouri Western 6-5 and win the MIAA Tournament Championship. MWSU scored three runs in the top of the first inning. ESU got on the board in the second as Taylor Reichard singled with one out and Jessica Gragg doubled her in. Andrea Piezuch and Jessica Brewer led off the third with back to back singles for the Hornets and with two outs Amanda Self delivered a two run double to right center to tie the game at 3-3. The Griffons retook the lead at 5-3 in the fourth before Kendra Gifford hit a one out triple in the bottom of the inning and scored on Taylor Zordel’s single to cut the lead in half. Then in the fifth Tricia Vogel singled, Amanda Self walked and Reichard reached on an infield single to load the bases for Gragg, who came through with two run single to give ESU a 6-5 lead.
THE?COACHES
Julie LeMaire is 39-9 in her first season at Emporia State. She was named MIAA Coach of the Year after going 20-0 in the MIAA regular season. She is 131-86 in her fourth season as a head coach. She came to ESU after three years at Ft. Hays State and took the Tigers to the MIAA Tournament Championship game last season. She is 12-6 in the MIAA Tournament with a 4-0 record at ESU. She was 1-1 against Abilene Christian while at FHSU.
Bobby Reeves is 57-33 in his second season at ACU and 186-168 in seven years as a head coach. This is his first meeting with ESU.
SCOUTING ABILENE CHRISTIAN
The Wildcats are 29-16 and went 15-11 in the Lone Star Conference to finish in fifth place. They lost to West Texas A&M in the first round of the LSC tourney and have dropped five of their last six games entering the NCAA Tournament. Designated player Courtney Flanary was named first-team All-LSC after hitting .345 with seven doubles and 22 RBI. Outfielder Keanna Winkfield is batting .384 with 34 runs, four triples and 23 stolen bases as she earned second-team All-LSC honors. Pitcher Peyton Mosley went 11-8 with a 2.48 ERA and was named first-team All-LSC in the circle.
SERIES AGAINST THE WILDCATS
ESU leads the all-time series 7-5 after winning the last three games - all in Abilene. The Hornets have won six of the last seven meetings in the series, but this will be the first post season game between the two schools.
LAST TIME VS. ACU
The Hornets earned their second win over a ranked opponent on the day beating #17 Abilene Christian 8-1 in the nightcap at the ACU/CBS Insurance Classic on Feb. 20, 2010. ESU had 12 hits as they put up six runs through the first two frames to put the game away. Amanda Self had her second home run in as many games as she went two for two with two RBI. Abby Smith and Abby Hughes also added single RBI for the Hornets. Miranda Campbell had a triple and scored a run. Paige Ladenburger picked up the win allowing one run over seven innings and striking out three.
UP NEXT
The Hornets will play either Central Oklahoma or Incarnate Word on Saturday in the second round of the double elimination tournament. The winners will play at 1:00 p.m with the losers facing elimination at 3:30 p.m.
