Softball | 5/11/2014 2:04:00 AM
#18 Emporia State Hornets (48-13, 23-3 MIAA)
vs. Southeastern Oklahoma Savage Storm (40-17, 28-11 GAC)
May 11, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. • Mankato, Minn. • The Diamond at Lot 1
Series Record: SEOSU leads 7-2 Last Meeting: at SEOSU 8, ESU 2 (Feb. 23, 2013)
Radio: KFFX-FM 104.9 Internet Audio:
www.kvoe.comUp Next: Winner Winona State/Augustana winner in Super Regional
May 16, 2014 • TBA
At highest remaining seed
Complete Notes in pdf •
Live StatsCHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY
The #18 Hornets take on Southeastern Oklahoma to go to the Super Regional next weekend.
LAST AT BAT
The #18 Emporia State softball team stayed alive at the NCAA Central Regional Tournament and in the process eliminated the host school and defending national champions. The Hornets defeated host and 11th ranked Minnesota State 3-2 in the first game and then run ruled Central Oklahoma 13-2 to advance to the championship game. The 13 runs are the most scored by Emporia State in an NCAA Tournament game.
THE COACHES
Julie LeMaire is 128-44 in her third season at Emporia State. She has been named MIAA Coach of the Year twice in her three years with the Hornets. She is 216-120 in her sixth season as a head coach. She came to Emporia State after three years at Ft. Hays State. She is 25-15 in the post season with a 17-9 record at Emporia State.
Ron Faubion is 625-256 in his 15th year at Southeastern Oklahoma and 746-296 in his 18th year as a collegiate coach.
ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 48-13 on the year, went 22-3 in the MIAA, are ranked #18 in the NFCA National Poll and are the three seed in the NCAA Central Region. The Hornets lead the MIAA with a .967 fielding percentage and they lead the nation in double plays with 41 in 61 games. Emporia State is third in the MIAA in pitching with a 2.67 team ERA. Kaitlyn Caston is leading the nation with a school record 35 wins on the season. The Hornets are fourth in the league in team hitting with a .315 batting average and lead the league in runs scored. Stephanie Goodwin is leading the conference in doubles with 17 and hits with 84 on the season, while Taylor Zordel is second in doubles with 16 and leads the MIAA in assists with 161.
ABOUT THE SAVAGE STORM
Southeastern Oklahoma is 40-17 on the season and went 28-11 in the GAC. They are the seventh seed in regional, but won their first two games. They are batting .298 as a team with a .967 fielding percentage and 3.53 team ERA. Jessica Simmons is batting .416 with 34 stolen bases, 56 runs scored and 18 doubles. Mindy McElroy is 26-9 in the circle with a 2.54 ERA, 57 strike outs and a .258 opponents batting average.
SERIES HISTORY
The Savage Storm leads the all-time series 7-2 after the two split a double header last year in Durant, Okla.
LAST TIME AGAINST SE OKLA.
The 12 Emporia State softball team hit six home runs on the day in a double header split at 2 Southeastern Oklahoma State Saturday in Durant, Okla. The Hornets won game one 11-2 before dropping the night cap 8-2. In game one Taylor Reichard was two for three with three RBI and three runs scored and was hit once. Stephanie Goodwin was one for three with three RBI while Andrea Piezuch went two for four with two RBI and a run scored. Karley Schmelzer allowed two runs on five hits with four walks and two strikeouts. Cacy Williams was two for three with a double and a solo home run while Tricia Vogel went one for three with an RBI in the nightcap. Lauren Sharp took the loss giving up eight runs, seven of them earned, on 12 hits with a walk and a strikeout.
UP NEXT
The winner will play the winner of the other Central Regional, either Augustana or Winona State, at the site of the highest remaining seed. Winona State is the #1 seed, Emporia State the #3 seed, Augustana is the #4 and Southeastern is the #7 seed. The best two of three Super Regional will begin on Friday.
SUCCESS IN MAY
This is the 11th straight year Emporia State has played in the NCAA Tournament. They have a 34-24 (.5586) overall record in NCAA Tournament play. The Hornets are 19-12 in NCAA tournament elimination games all-time. Emporia State has played in ten of the last 12 MIAA Tournament championship games with eight titles. Since 2001 the Hornets are 48-14 (.789) in the MIAA Tournament play with a 47-10 (.846) record over the last 12 tournaments.
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 11 straight years and 12 times in the last 19 seasons. The 11 straight years in NCAA Tournament play is the fourth 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 81-22 in the fifth inning this year.
• The Hornets are 36-3 when scoring at least five runs.
• Emporia State is 37-1 when leading after five innings.
• ESU has ended four games in the fifth inning by the run rule - and have won a total of six run rule games this year.
HOW DO THEY RANK
Entering the NCAA 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 18th in the nation with a .970 fielding percentage. Tricia Vogel leads the MIAA in putouts and double plays fielded while Taylor Zordel leads the league in assists. Kaitlyn Caston has set the Emporia State single season record for wins with 33 and leads the nation in that category. The Hornets lead the MIAA in doubles, sac flies and batters hit by pitch. Individually Stephanie Goodwin leads the MIAA with 17 doubles and 79 hits. Tricia Vogel leads the MIAA with four sacrifice flies at the plate.
CASHING IN
Kaitlyn Caston is having one of the most durable seasons in Emporia State history. She holds the Emporia State single season record for wins, appearances and complete games. Her 35 wins have broken Kaylynn Schrock's MIAA record of 34 set during Central Oklahoma's national championship run last season.
THROUGH ADVERSITY
The Hornets have gone through several events that have brought them together as a team. Freshman pitcher Eryn Stockman's mother Mija was in a three-car accident on the morning of December 20th, 2013 on her way to the last day of work before Christmas break. She sustained multiple injuries including a basilar skull fracture with major bleeding and swelling in her brain and a broken ankle. The team has been involved in several activities to help the family, including the entire team and coaching staff taking part in the Miles of Smiles for Mija Color Run on March 30 in Lindsborg, Kan. The run raised nearly $30,000 to help offset costs of Mija's rehabilitation at the Madonna Rehab Hospital in Lincoln, Neb. Two weeks before the Color Run senior secondbaseman Taylor Reichard suffered a broken ankle while sliding into third base and was lost for the season.
