Softball | 4/2/2014 5:11:00 PM
Complete Notes in pdfPSU Live StatsMSSU Live Stats#7 Emporia State Hornets (30-7, 10-0 MIAA)
at Pittsburg State Gorillas (17-17, 4-8 MIAA)
Friday, April 4 at 3:00 p.m. • Pittsburg, Kan. • PSU Softball Complex
Series Record: ESU leads 69-47 Last Meeting: PSU 3, ESU 2 (3/21/14)
at Missouri Southern Lions (10-24, 2-8 MIAA)
Saturday, April 5 at 1:00 p.m. • Joplin, Mo. • Lea Kungle Field
Series Record: MSSU leads 37-31 Last Meeting: at ESU 8, MSSU 7 (4/6/13)
Up Next: vs. Central Oklahoma • April 11, 2014 at 4:00 p.m.
Emporia, Kan. • Turnbull Field at Trusler Sports Complex
SOUTHERN SWING
The #7 Emporia State softball team heads southeast this weekend to play at Pittsburg State and Missouri Southern.
LAST AT BAT
The #9 Emporia State softball team swept Washburn on Saturday. In a 5-1 win in the matinee Kaitlyn Caston won her nation's leading 21st game of the year, giving up one run on three hits with a walk and three strikeouts. Taylor Zordel was two for four with a run and an RBI while Brenda Novelo went two for three with a run and an RBI. Eryn Stockman went the distance, giving up nine hits, but only two runs with a walk and three strikeouts in a 4-2 win in the nightcap. Zordel and Tricia Vogel each went two for four while Stephanie Goodwin had a two run homer.
THE COACHES
Julie LeMaire is 110-38 in her third season at Emporia State. She was named MIAA Coach of the Year after going 20-0 in the MIAA in her first year. She is 202-114 in her sixth season as a head coach. She came to Emporia State after three years at Ft. Hays State.
Elizabeth Economon is 74-67 in her third year at Pittsburg State.
Bill Gray is 125-180 in his sixth year at Missouri Southern and 320-311 in his 12th season overall as a head coach.
ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 30-7 on the year, 10-0 in the MIAA and ranked #7 in the NFCA National Poll. The Hornets lead the MIAA in doubles, are second in stolen bases and fourth batting average. Defensively they are fifth in the nation and lead the league in double plays with 21 and are ranked fourth in the MIAA in overall fielding percentage. They have won 20 of their last 23 games and are currently on a six game winning streak. Kaitlyn Caston is leading the nation with 21 wins on the season.
ABOUT THE GORILLAS
Pittsburg State is 17-17 overall and 4-8 in the MIAA. They are fourth in the MIAA in hitting with a .308 average They are seventh in pitching with a 4.62 ERA and field at a .960 percentage to rank sixth in the league. Tiffany Brown is batting .458 with a nation's best 19 home runs.
ABOUT THE LIONS
Missouri Southern is 10-24 on the year, 2-8 in MIAA play. They lead the league with a .975 fielding percentage, but are 12th in batting with a .255 average and 11th in pitching with a 6.52 ERA.
SERIES HISTORIES
Emporia State leads the all-time series 69-47, and have won 26 of the last 30 against Pittsburg State.
Emporia State trails Missouri Southern 37-31 all-time, but have won 20 of the last 24 games.
LAST TIME AGAINST PSU
Two Emporia State errors led to three unearned runs in a 3-2 Pittsburg State victory in St. Joseph, Mo. Kaitlyn Caston took the loss despite not allowing an earned run, giving up three runs on five hits with two walks and two strikeouts. She also provided the offense for the Hornets with a two run homer.
LAST TIME AGAINST MSSU
Emporia State scored the final five runs in an 8-7 come from behind win against Mo. Southern last year. Stephanie Goodwin was two for four with two RBI and a run scored. Taylor Zordel and Jessica Brewer were both two for three with two runs scored Karley Schmelzer struck out seven in 3.2 innings and allowed just one run on four hits.
UP NEXT
The Hornets return home to take on defending national champion Central Oklahoma on April 11 at Trusler.
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