#13 EMPORIA STATE SOFTBALL LOOKS TO REGAIN MIAA TOURNAMENT TITLE

Softball | 4/30/2014 12:53:00 AM

TOURNEY TIME  
The #13 Hornets begin the quest for their ninth MIAA Tournament in the last 11 years against Northeastern State.

LAST AT BAT
The #13 Emporia State softball team clinched their eighth MIAA regular season championship in the last ten years in emphatic fashion with a pair of run rule wins at Lincoln.  The Hornets won the first game 15-3 in five innings and then posted a 13-4 win in the five innings in the second game.

THE COACHES
Julie LeMaire is 123-41 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 211-117 in her sixth season as a head coach. She came to Emporia State after three years at Ft. Hays State. She is 17-8 in the MIAA Tournament with a 9-2 record at Emporia State. She has taken teams to the last three MIAA Championship games.
Clay Davis is 53-52 in his second year at Northeastern State and 117-106 in his fourth season overall as a head coach.
Erin Kinberger is 106-49 in her third year at Ft. Hays State.
Susan Anderson is 234-184 in her eighth year at Central Missouri and 415-356 in her 16th season overall as a head coach.

ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 43-10 on the year, 22-3 in the MIAA, ranked #13 in the NFCA National Poll and first in the NCAA Central Region.  The Hornets lead the MIAA with a .969 fielding percentage and they lead the nation in double plays with 36 in 53 games. Emporia State is third in the MIAA in pitching with a 2.83 team ERA. Kaitlyn Caston is leading the nation with 30 wins on the season. The Hornets are fourth in the league in team hitting with a .315 batting average. Stephanie Goodwin is leading the conference in doubles with 17 on the season, while Taylor Zordel is second in stolen bases with 29.

ABOUT THE RIVERHAWKS
Northeastern State is 26-28 and 12-14 in the MIAA.  They are batting .267 with a 4.22 ERA and .955 fielding percentage.

SERIES HISTORY
Emporia State leads Northeastern State 24-16 including a win in last year's MIAA Tournament.

LAST TIME AGAINST NSU
Emporia State swept Northeastern State at Trusler, allowing just one unearned run in the twin bill.  The Hornets won game one 8-0 in five innings and took a 5-1 decision in game two.

ABOUT THE TIGERS
Ft. Hays State is 28-18 overall, 17-9 in the MIAA. They have a .295 team batting average, a 3.06 ERA and .967 fielding percentage.

SERIES HISTORY
Emporia State leads Ft. Hays State 40-26 all-time. The Hornets have won two of three MIAA Tournament match-ups between LeMaire and her former team.

LAST TIME AGAINST FHSU
The #21 Hornets posted a double header sweep at #13 Ft. Hays State.  Emporia State won game one 7-6 in eight innings before taking an 8-0 win in six innings in game two.

ABOUT THE JENNIES
Central Missouri is 27-21 overall and 14-12 in the MIAA. They have a .320 team batting average, a 3.43 ERA and .959 fielding percentage.

SERIES HISTORY
The Hornets lead the all-time series 56-39 and have won 21 of the last 23 games against Central Missouri.

LAST TIME AGAINST UCM
The #5 Hornets swept Central Missouri at Trusler.  The Hornets won game one 8-3 and scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh to win game two 8-7.

UP NEXT
The MIAA Tournament continues on Friday with the championship game set for Saturday.  The Hornets are ranked #1 in the Central Regional and should be in good shape for an at large bid to the NCAA Tournament regardless of the MIAA Tournament outcome. The tournament champions from the MIAA, Northern Sun and Great American Conferences all receive automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament,  while the next five highest ranked teams in the region get the at large bids. The top two teams in the region that submit bids will host the two Central Regional Tournaments with the winners of those tournaments advancing to the Super Regional. With a tournament championship Emporia State should secure home field advantage for one of the two Central Regional Tournaments to be held May 9-11.

SUCCESS IN MAY
Emporia State has played in ten of the last 11 MIAA Tournament championship games with eight titles. Since 2001 the Hornets are 45-12 (.789) in the MIAA Tournament play with a 44-8 (.846) record over the last 11 tournaments. The Hornets have a 31-25 (.554) overall record in NCAA Tournament play.  The Hornets are 16-12 in NCAA tournament elimination games all-time.

HORNET HISTORY
Emporia State has finished as the NCAA Division II National Runners-up twice, in 2006 and 2008. The Hornets have qualified for NCAA Regional play ten straight years and 11 times in the last 18 seasons. The ten straight years in NCAA Tournament play is the fifth longest active streak in the nation. The Hornets won the NAIA National Championship in 1983 and 1984 and won the AIAW National Championship in 1980.

TAKE THE FIFTH
• Emporia State has outscored it's opponents 80-21 in the fifth inning this year.
• The Hornets are 34-2 when scoring at least five runs.  
• Emporia State is 34-1 when leading after five innings.
• ESU has ended three games in the fifth inning by the run rule - and have won a total of five run rule games this year.

HOW DO THEY RANK
Entering the MIAA Tournament Emporia State is leading the nation in double plays per game, turning 0.64 double plays per game. The Hornets also lead the MIAA and are ranked 17th in the nation with a .970 fielding percentage.  Kaitlyn Caston leads the nation with 30 wins to rank fourth on the Emporia State single season list.  She needs one more win to tie Rhonda Clarke (1984), Samantha Sheeley (2008), and Karly Schmelzer (2013) for the most wins in a single season in school history.  The Hornets lead the MIAA in doubles, sac flies and batters hit by pitch. Individually Stephanie Goodwin leads the MIAA with 17 doubles.