Softball | 4/5/2013 11:43:00 AM
SIX AT HOME
Emporia State begins a six game home stand with Pittsburg State on Friday and Missouri Southern on Saturday.
THE?COACH
Julie LeMaire is 64-20 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 156-97 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
Emporia State gained a split of a double header at Central Missouri on Tuesday. The Hornets pushed their overall winning streak to seven games with a 2-0 win the matinee before seeing a 13 game winning streak over the Jennies snapped in a 6-2 loss in the night cap. She is 6-6 against MSSU and 8-5 against PSU overall and 2-0 against both while at Emporia State.
ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State has won 12 of their last 14 games to improve to 22-9 on the season. They have won nine of ten conference games to improve to 9-3 in the MIAA. In the latest stats, 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 .402 with eight home runs and 32 RBI. Stephanie Goodwin is hitting .380 with a team best ten home runs and 32 RBI. Taylor Zordel is hitting .396 with a team best 36 runs and was named MIAA Hitter of the Week last week. Andrea Piezuch leads the MIAA in doubles while Williams and Amanda Self are tied for second in the league. Karley Schmelzer is 15-4 with a 2.16 ERA and 100 strike outs in 110.1 innings pitched. She is tied for the league lead in wins and shut outs.
SCOUTING THE GORILLAS
Pittsburg State is 17-15 overall and 5-7 in the MIAA and have lost six straight. Kreslee Ketcham is batting .364 with nine homers and 25 RBI to lead the Gorillas. Five pitchers have at least two decisions, led by Kyndel Shelburn with a 6-5 record and 2.40 ERA.
SERIES HISTORY
Emporia State leads the all-time series 67-46, have won eight in a row and 24 of the last 27 against Pittsburg State.
LAST TIME VS. PITT STATE
The #20 Hornets clinched a share of the MIAA regular season championship with a double header sweep of Pittsburg State in Pittsburg. The Hornets won both games by run rule, taking an 11-3 win in game one and a 12-4 decision in game two.
SCOUTING THE LIONS
Missouri Southern is 18-16 overall and 5-7 in the MIAA and have lost three of four. Shelby Romines is batting .385 with six home runs and 24 RBI to lead the Lions. Haley Kinnison is 6-4 with a 3.04 ERA in 12 starts in the circle.
SERIES HISTORY
Emporia State trails Missouri Southern 37-29 all-time, but have won 18 of the last 22 games.
LAST TIME VS. MO. SOUTHERN
Emporia State was dominant in a pair of run rule shut out wins in five innings at Missouri Southern. Karley Schmelzer tossed her MIAA record third no hitter of the season in a 12-0 win in game one and Jen Heerey tossed a one hitter in #20 Emporia State's 9-0 win in game two.
UP NEXT
The Hornets wrap up the home stand on Tuesday against Newman at Trusler. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. on Turnbull Field.
