Softball | 5/7/2014 11:38:00 PM
SEASONS ARE MADE IN MAY
The #18 Hornets begin play in their 11th straight NCAA Tournament against a familiar foe in Central Oklahoma.
LAST AT BAT
Emporia State fell to Northeastern State 3-1 in the MIAA semifinal. The Riverhawks scored single runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings for a 3-0 lead. The Hornets, who left the bases loaded in the third inning and two runners in scoring position in the fifth, got on the board in the sixth. Gragg led off with a single and stole second. She went to third on Piezuch's single and scored on an RBI single by Vogel. Caston went the distance in the circle allowing three runs on ten hits.
THE COACHES
Julie LeMaire is 126-43 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 214-119 in her sixth season as a head coach. She came to Emporia State after three years at Ft. Hays State. She is 23-14 in the post season with a 15-8 record at Emporia State.
Cody White is 40-15 in his first year at Central Oklahoma.
ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 46-12 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 .969 fielding percentage and they lead the nation in double plays with 39 in 58 games. Emporia State is third in the MIAA in pitching with a 2.69 team ERA. Kaitlyn Caston is leading the nation with 33 wins on the season. The Hornets are fourth in the league in team hitting with a .313 batting average and lead the league in runs scored. Stephanie Goodwin is leading the conference in doubles with 17 and hits with 79 on the season, while Taylor Zordel is second in doubles with 15 and leads the MIAA in assists with 151.
ABOUT THE BRONCHOS
Central Oklahoma is 40-15 on the season and went 22-4 in the MIAA to finish second. They are the sixth seed in the regional and the defending national champions. They are leading the MIAA with a .338 team average, 21 triples and 89 stolen bases. Their 1.92 team ERA and .210 opponents batting average top the MIAA as well. The Bronchos .962 fielding percentage is fifth in the league
SERIES HISTORY
The Hornets lead the all-time series 24-17. All but five of the last 20 games have been decided by two runs or less. Emporia State was the last team to defeat Central Oklahoma last season before they reeled off nine straight wins to capture the national championship. The two have split four previous NCAA Tournament meetings. The Bronchos took two of three in Edmond, Okla. during the 2012 Regional while the Hornets won 4-3 in the 2006 World Series in Salem, Va.
LAST TIME AGAINST UCO
After allowing an unearned run in the first, Emporia State scored four runs in the second to take the lead for good in a 7-2 win against the Bronchos in the MIAA Tournament. The Hornets blew the game open with three runs in the top of the seventh on home runs by Jessica Gragg and Tricia Vogel. Vogel was three for four with two RBI, two runs scored and a home run for the Hornets while Stephanie Goodwin went one for three with two RBI. Kaitlyn Caston went the distance allowing two runs, only one of them earned, on seven hits with three strikeouts and no walks. She also scored two runs after twice being hit by a pitch.
UP NEXT
Emporia State will play either Minnesota State or Southeastern Oklahoma in the next round. The winners will meet at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday while the losers will play at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.
SUCCESS IN MAY
This is the 11th straight year Emporia State has played in the NCAA Tournament. They have a 32-23 (.582) overall record in NCAA Tournament play. The Hornets are 17-12 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 35-2 when scoring at least five runs.
• Emporia State is 37-1 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 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.
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.
