Softball | 4/2/2013 11:30:00 AM
ON THE ROAD
Emporia State travels to Warrensburg, Mo. to take on Central Missouri. The Hornets have won six straight while the Jennies have dropped four straight.
THE?COACH
Julie LeMaire is 63-19 in her second season at Emporia State. She was named MIAA Coach of the Year after going 20-0 in the MIAA last season. She is 155-96 in her fifth 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 in 2011.
LAST AT BAT
The Hornets got a run-rule win and an extra inning win on Saturday in a double header sweep of Lincoln. Emporia State won the first game 8-0 in five innings and the second 5-4 in eight innings in a double header moved to Topeka due to over night rains in Emporia.
ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State has won 11 of their last 12 games to improve to 21-8 on the season. They have won eight straight conference games to improve to 8-2 in the MIAA. As a team they are ranked second in the MIAA in batting at .330 and are third in the league in pitching with a 2.56 ERA. Cacy Williams is batting a team best .427 with eight home runs and 32 RBI. Stephanie Goodwin is hitting .379 with a team best ten home runs and 32 RBI. Taylor Zordel is hitting .400 with a team best 36 runs after hitting .545 with 11 runs in six games last week. Andrea Piezuch leads the MIAA in doubles while Williams and Amanda Self are tied for second in the league. Karley Schmelzer is 14-4 with a 2.26 ERA and 94 strike outs in 102.0 innings pitched. She is tied for the league lead in wins and shut outs.
SCOUTING THE JENNIES
Central Missouri is 14-12 on the season and 4-6 in the MIAA. The Jennies lost four straight MIAA games on a trip to Oklahoma over the weekend, but are 3-1 at the South Recreation Complex in Warrensburg. Braylyn Bivens is batting a team best .402 with 27 runs scored. Five pitchers have decisions on the year led by Jakki Prater at 7-3 with a 2.05 ERA in 15 appearances
SERIES HISTORY
The Hornets lead the all-time series 53-38. Emporia State has won 12 in a row and 18 of the last 19 against Central Missouri. The last loss for the Hornets was a 2-0 decision at Trusler on April 17, 2009. Emporia State's last loss in Warrensburg was a 3-2 loss on April 18, 2006.
LAST TIME VS. CENTRAL MISSOURI
The #16 Emporia State softball team opened the MIAA Tournament with a pair of run rule wins over Lincoln and Central Missouri to advance to the winners bracket championship game. The Hornets defeated the Blue Tigers 11-0 and the Jennies 8-0 at the Blue Valley Recreation Complex in Overland Park, Kan. Emporia State lost the coin flip in game two against the Jennies and were the visitors on the scoreboard. They responded by scoring four runs in the top of the first to give Karley Schmelzer all the run support she would need. She struck out seven of the first ten Jennies she faced and after allowing a lead off single in the third, retired the final nine Jennies for a one hit shutout. Taylor Reichard was three for three with four RBI and a run scored.
UP NEXT
The Hornets returning to the Trusler Sports Complex for six straight games starting with Pittsburg State on Friday. First pitch of the twin bill is set for 3:00 p.m. on Turnbull Field.
