#17 Emporia State Hornets (3-1, 0-0 MIAA)
at Kelly Laas Memorial Crossover • Feb. 19-21, 2015 • St. Cloud, Minn.at St. Cloud State Huskies (2-3, 0-0 NSIC) • Feb. 19 at 2:30 p.m.
vs. Concordia-St. Paul Golden Bears (0-0, 0-0 NSIC) • Feb. 19 at 7:00 p.m.
vs. Minn. State Mankato Mavericks (0-4, 0-0 NSIC) • Feb. 20 at 2:30 p.m.
vs. Wayne State Wildcats (0-0, 0-0 NSIC) • Feb. 21 at 8:00 a.m.
vs. #23 Augustana Vikings (3-2, 0-0 NSIC) • Feb. 21 at 10:00 a.m.
Complete Notes in pdf Live StatsUp Next: Texas Woman's Spring Fling in Denton, Texas • Feb. 27-28, 2015
GOING INDOORS
The #17 Hornets travel to St. Cloud, Minn. to take part in the Kelly Laas Memorial Crossover. Emporia State will play five regional games inside the Husky Dome.
LAST WEEKEND
Emporia State opened the season going 3-1 at the UAM 8-State Classic in Bentonville, Ark. The Hornets opened with a 4-2 win over Harding and fell 7-2 to Ark. Tech in the night cap on Friday before sweeping Saturday's action 3-0 over Drury and 7-6 against Northwestern Oklahoma State. Brenda Novelo hit .538 with two home runs, four RBI and four runs scored. Kaitlyn Caston was 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA on the weekend while Kelsee Henry was 1-0 with a one hitter.
THE COACHES
Julie LeMaire is 132-46 in 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 220-122 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.
Paula U'Ren is 561-373 in her 18th season at St. Cloud State.
Bob Bartel is 323-219 in his 11th season at Concordia-St. Paul.
Lori Meyer is 1,011-629 in her 31st season at Minnesota State-Mankato.
Shelli Manson is in her first season at Wayne State and is 59-93 in five seasons as a head coach.
Gretta Metsted is 381-242 in her ninth season at Augustana.
HISTORY INDOORS
This will be the third trip to the Husky Dome for the Hornets. Emporia State went 3-1 last year in the Husky Dome and 5-0 in 2005. Four of the eight wins have been shut outs. The lone loss was to Augustana last year.
ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 3-1 on the season and ranked #17 in this week's NFCA Division II Top 25. Eight different Hornets had RBI during the opening weekend led by Brenda Novelo's two home run four RBI effort. Jessica Gragg hit a team best .583 in the four games with a double, home run and three RBI. Taylor Zordel hit .375 with three doubles and three stolen bases. Emporia State used three pitchers with Kaitlyn Caston picking up two wins. Kelsee Henry tossed a one hit shutout in her first career start for the Hornets.
KNOW THE FOES
Emporia State is scheduled to play five games at the Kelly Laas Memorial Crossover.
St. Cloud State went 2-3 at the Desert Stinger Classic in Las Vegas last weekend. The Huskies went 14-28-1 last season, going 8-17-1 in the NSIC.
Concordia-St. Paul will be opening the 2015 season after going 20-34 last year with a 13-17 record in conference play.
Minn. State-Makato was 0-4 at the 8-State Classic last weekend, falling twice to MIAA teams. The Mavericks were 43-13 last year and hosted the regional.
Wayne State is opening the season after posting a 35-18 record last year. The Wildcats were 20-8 in the NSIC.
Augustana is 3-2 after opening the season at the Desert Stinger Classic in Las Vegas. They are ranked #23 in this week's national poll. The Vikings were 46-15, 23-7 in the NSIC last season and lost in the Super Regional.
UP NEXT
The Hornets will travel to Denton, Texas to play games against Texas Woman's and St. Edwards next weekend. After that Emporia State is scheduled to open MIAA play at the Trusler Sports Complex against Lindenwood on March 6 against Lindenwood.
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.
LET'S TURN TWO
Emporia State led the nation in double plays per game last year, 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. Emporia State turned three double plays in the first four games this year or 0.75 per game.
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. Emporia State hit seven doubles in four games to start the season for an average of 1.75 two-baggers per game. Taylor Zordel led the hit parade with three doubles, twice hitting them to lead off in the first inning.
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. She is 2-0 to start this season.
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
