#18 Emporia State Hornets (0-0, 0-0 MIAA)
at Ark.-Monticello 8-State Classic • Feb. 13-15, 2015 • Bentonville, Ark.
vs. Harding Bison (2-4, 0-0 GAC) • Feb. 13 at
vs. Arkansas Tech Golden Suns (0-0, 0-0 GAC) • Feb. 13 at
vs. Drury Panthers (0-0, 0-0 GLVC) • Feb. 14 at
vs. Northwestern Okla. Rangers (2-3, 0-0 GAC) • Feb. 14 at
vs. Henderson State Reddies (5-3, 0-0 GAC) • Feb. 15 at
vs. Ark.-Monticello Cotton Blossoms (2-2, 0-0 GAC) • Feb. 15 at
Up Next: Kelly Laas Memorial Crossover in St. Cloud, Minn. • Feb. 19-21, 2015
LET'S GET THINGS STARTED
The #18 Hornets open the 2015 season at the Ark.-Monticello 8-State Classic in Bentonville, Ark. This is the 12th straight year Emporia State has opened the season with a road tournament. The Hornets are 34-16 in the previous 11 tournaments.
LAST YEAR
Emporia State went 49-14 overall and were 22-3 in the MIAA as they won their eighth regular season championship in the last ten years. Stephanie Goodwin was a unanimous first-team All-MIAA selection in the outfield and earned first-team All-Region honors from CoSIDA and the NFCA. She led the MIAA in hits and doubles, was third in the league in batting average, fifth in runs scored, and sixth in on base percentage. Jessica Gragg was a first team All-MIAA selection at third base and earned first-team All-Region honors from CoSIDA and the NFCA. She was ranked second in the MIAA in RBI, eighthth in on base percentage, ninth in slugging percentage and 11th in home runs. The Hornets turned a total of 42 double plays in their 63 games last season for an average of 0.63 twin killings per game. Emporia State shattered the MIAA record of 27 set by Washburn in 2005 and are ranked second all-time in NCAA Division II. Shortstop Taylor Zordel had a hand in 19 of the double plays and earned first-team All-MIAA honors. She was second in the MIAA in doubles and third in stolen bases while leading the league in assists.
THE COACH
Julie LeMaire is 129-45 as she starts her fourth season at Emporia State. She has been named MIAA Coach of the Year twice in her three years with the Hornets. She is 217-121 in her seventh season as a head coach. She came to Emporia State after three years at Ft. Hays State. She is 26-16 in the post season with an 18-10 record at Emporia State.
KNOW THE FOES
Emporia State is scheduled to play six games at the 8-States Classic in Bentonville with five of them against teams from the Great American Conference. The tournament is hosted by Ark.-Monticello, but is played at Memorial Park and Bentonville HS in Bentonville, Ark.
Harding is 2-4 on the season after going winless in four games in Florida last weekend. The Bison were 32-26 last season, 22-18 in the GAC.
Arkansas Tech will be opening the 2015 season after going 31-27 least year with a 19-21 record in conference play.
Drury will be opening the season as well. They were 14-28 least year, 11-23 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.
Northwestern Oklahoma State is 2-3 on the year, having lost their last three games of a five game Texas road trip. they were 41-15 last season, but not eligible for the NCAA Tournament during their transition phase from the NAIA.
Henderson State is 5-3 already this year with a 4-1 record against MIAA teams. They were 31-25 last season and went 24-16 in the GAC.
Ark.-Monticello is 2-2 on the season and is 1-1 against the MIAA. They were 28-30, 16-23 in the GAC last season.
HISTORY IN BENTONVILLE
This is the third straight year the Hornets have played in the 8-State Classic. Emporia State has gone 11-1 in Bentonville the last two years. The one loss came last year in a 5-1 set back to then #18 Mo.-St. Louis.
UP NEXT
The Hornets will travel to St. Cloud, Minn. to take part in the Kelly Laas Memorial MIAA/NSIC Crossover Invitational over the weekend of Feb. 20-22. The Tournament will be played indoors at the Husky Dome on the campus of St. Cloud State University.
SUCCESS IN MAY
Emporia State has played in 11 straight NCAA Tournaments and 12 overall. They have a 35-25 (.583) overall record in NCAA Tournament play. The Hornets are 20-13 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 outscored it's opponents 85-23 in the fifth inning last year.
• The Hornets were 37-3 when scoring at least five runs.
• Emporia State was 38-1 when leading after five innings.
• ESU ended four games in the fifth inning by the run rule - and won a total of six run rule games last year.
LET'S TURN TWO
Emporia State led the nation in double plays per game, turning 0.63 double plays per game. The 42 double plays rank second all-time in Division II behind 45 by Alderson Broaddus in 1995. Emporia State shattered the MIAA record of 27 set by Washburn in 2005. The previous record for the Hornets was 31 set in 1991.
DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE
The Hornets were 26th in the nation in doubles per game last year, with 1.63 doubles per contest. Stephanie Goodwin hit 19 doubles to rank second on the Emporia State single season list.
CASHING IN
Kaitlyn Caston had one of the most durable seasons in Emporia State history last year. She set the Emporia State single season record for wins, appearances and complete games. Her 36 wins broke Kaylynn Schrock's MIAA record of 34 set during Central Oklahoma's national championship run in 2013.
FAVORITES
After being tabbed for fourth in last season's preseason poll and proceeding to capture their eighth MIAA Regular Season Championship in ten years, #18 Emporia State is the coaches pick to make it nine of 11 in the MIAA Preseason Softball Poll.
2015 MIAA Softball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Emporia State (12) 168
2. Central Oklahoma (2) 156
3. Missouri Western 147
4. Central Missouri 119
5. Fort Hays State 113
6. Northeastern State 101
7. Pittsburg State 100
8. Northwest Missouri 94
9. Lindenwood 79
10. Washburn 67
11. Missouri Southern 46
12. Nebraska-Kearney 40
13. Southwest Baptist 31
14. Lincoln 13
