#20 Emporia State Hornets (12-4, 4-0 MIAA)
vs. Washburn Ichabods (11-4, 3-1 MIAA)
March 13, 2015 • 2:00 p.m. • WU Softball Field • Topeka, Kan.  
March 14, 2015 • 2:00 p.m. • Trusler Sports Complex • Emporia, Kan.
Series Record: ESU leads 83-53-1  
Last Meeting: at ESU 4, WU 2 (March 29, 2014)   
Radio: none Internet Audio: none
Live Stats at WU (Friday)  Live Stats at ESU (Saturday)
Complete Notes in pdf
Up Next: SE Oklahoma • March 24, 2015 • Trusler Sports Complex • Emporia, Kan.

TRAVELLING TURNPIKE TUSSLE  
The #20 Hornets will travel back and forth on the Kansas Turnpike this weekend for a home and home series against Washburn.

LAST AT BAT
Emporia State extended their streak of scoreless innings to 29.0 in a double header sweep of Lindenwood on Sunday at the Trusler Sports Complex. The Hornets won game one 9-0 in five innings and then posted a 3-0 win in the nightcap. Stephanie Goodwin was two for two with two RBI and three runs scored while Danielle Sprinkle was three for three with two doubles and two runs scored. Jessica Gragg ended the game with a three run homer in the bottom of the seventh to envoke the run rule. Kaitlyn Caston went the distance in the circle giving up four hits and a walk in 5.0 innings as she tossed her second straight shutout. Gragg gave the Hornets all the run support they needed in the first with an RBI double that plated Caitlyn VanVleck. VanVleck came back in the fifth and gave Emporia State a pair of insurance runs with a two RBI triple. Eryn Stockman scattered five hits and two walks as she tossed her third shutout of the season on her way to MIAA Pitcher of the Week honors.

THE COACHES
Julie LeMaire is 141-48 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 229-124 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. She is 8-0 against Washburn at Emporia State and went 4-3 against the Ichabods at FHSU.
Vanessa Becerra is 63-84 in her fourth season at Washburn and 97-102 in her fifth season overall. She is 0-8 against Emporia State.

ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 12-4, 4-0 in the MIAA and ranked #20 in this week's NFCA Division II Top 25. The Hornets lead the MIAA with a 3.18 team ERA, .984 fielding percentage and 40 stolen bases. Taylor Zordel is batting .500 on the season with an MIAA best 20 runs scored. Stephanie Goodwin leads the MIAA with 22 RBI and is batting .404 this year. Kaitlyn Caston is 5-1 with a 3.55 ERA while Eryn Stockman is 5-3 with a 2.41 ERA in the circle.

ABOUT THE ICHABODS
Washburn is 11-4 on the season and 3-1 in the MIAA. They are leading the MIAA with a .354 batting average. Kristen Bell is batting .458 while Cassidy Merriman is hitting .360 with four homers and 15 RBI. Lauren Thimmesch is 8-0 iwth a 0.45 ERA with four shut outs.

SERIES HISTORY
Emporia State leads Washburn 83-53-1 and has won 33 straight games against the Lady Blues. The Hornets have not lost to the Lady Blues since a 4-3 loss on April 20, 2005 in Topeka.  The last Emporia State loss to Washburn in the Trusler Sports Complex was a 10-7 decision in game two when they split a double header on March 16, 2004.

LAST AT BAT WITH WASHBURN
The #9 Hornets increased their winning streak against Washburn to 33 games with a double header sweep. Kaitlyn Caston gave up one run on three hits with three strikeouts in a 5-1 win. Taylor Zordel was two for four with a run and an RBI while Brenda Novelo went two for three with a run and an RBI. Eryn Stockman went the distance in the 4-2 win in game two, giving up nine hits, but only two runs and three strikeouts to earn her ninth win of the season. Zordel and Tricia Vogel each went two for four while Stephanie Goodwin had a two run homer.

UP NEXT
The Hornets will play a non-conference double header at Newman on Monday, March 16.  First pitch of game one in Wichita is set for 11 a.m.

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.

TAYLOR MADE
Taylor Zordel is batting .500 on the season and has been the toughest player to strike out in the MIAA with just K in 62 at bats. She is ninth among active NCAA Division II players in hits per game at 0.361 and 96 stolen bases.

THAT'S A GOOD ONE
Stephanie Goodwin is batting .404 on the season with an MIAA best 22 RBI. She has six doubles in 13 games this year and is ranked third among active Division II players with 55 doubles and is fifth among all three divisions

CASHING IN
Kaitlyn Caston is 5-1 in seven starts with a pair of shut outs. She tossed a five inning no hitter against Lincoln. She 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