#20 EMPORA STATE SOFTBALL TO WRAP UP REGULAR SEASON ON THE ROAD

#20 Emporia State Hornets (31-17, 13-9 MIAA)
at Northwest Missouri Bearcats (21-21, 13-9 MIAA)
April 23, 2015 • 2:00 p.m. • Bearcat Field • Maryville, Mo.  
Series Record: ESU leads 44-18  Last Meeting: at ESU 6, NWMSU 0 (3/9/2014)   
at Missouri Western Griffons (32-14, 16-6 MIAA)
April 25, 2015 • 1:00 p.m. • Griffon Spring Sports Complex • St. Joseph, Mo.
Series Record: ESU leads 55-27  Last Meeting: at ESU 7, MWSU 3 (3/10/2014)   
Radio: None Internet (Audio): None
Up Next: at MIAA Tourney • April 30, 2015 • 6 p.m. • Blue Valley Rec • Overland Park, Kan.

WRAP IT UP  
The #20 Hornets play their final four regular season games in the rare position for them of needing to win at least one game to clinch a spot in the MIAA Tournament.

LAST AT BAT
Despite leads in both games the then #17 Emporia State softball team was swept by Northeastern State. The Hornets lost game one 3-2 and fell 2-1 in the second game. Emporia State played without normal lead off hitter Taylor Zordel on offense due to a hand injury suffered against Central Oklahoma on Sunday. In the first game Stephanie Goodwin was two for two with her school record tying 20th double, a run scored and a walk while Caitlyn VanVleck was one for four with a double and a run scored.  Kaitlyn Caston took the loss, giving up three runs on ten hits with three strikeouts. Dani Sprinkle went three for three with the lone RBI for Emporia State in the nightcap.  Eryn Stockman took the loss giving up both runs, only one of them earned, on just four hits with three strikeouts and no walks.

THE COACHES
Julie LeMaire is 160-61 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 248-137 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. Since coming to Emporia State she is 5-1 against Northwest Missouri and 7-2 against Missouri Western.
Ryan Anderson is 215-222 in his ninth year at Northwest Missouri and 334-305 in his 13th year as a head coach. He is 3-14 against Emporia State while at NWMSU.
Jennifer Bagley Trotter is 486-289 in her 14th year at Missouri Western. She is 11-32 against Emporia State.

ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 31-17, 13-9 in the MIAA. They are seventh in the NCAA Central Regional Rankings and are #20 in this week's NFCA Division II Top 25. The Hornets lead the MIAA with a 2.81 team ERA, 93 stolen bases and have been hit a league high 45 times. Stephanie Goodwin leads the MIAA and is ranked seventh in the nation with 57 RBI and is batting a league best .426 with 20 doubles. Taylor Zordel is 15th in the nation in stolen bases with 37 and 20th in the nation with 51 runs scored. Eryn Stockman has a 2.34 ERA while Kaitlyn Caston is 13-5 in the circle.

ABOUT THE BEARCATS
Northwest Missouri is 21-21 overall and tied with Emporia State at 13-9 in the MIAA. They are the second best fielding team in the MIAA with a .970 fielding percentage.

THE SERIES
The Hornets lead the all-time series 44-18 and have won 13 of the last 14 against the Bearcats.  

LAST AT BAT WITH NORTHWEST
The Hornets swept the Bearcats getting a walk-off homer from Jessica Gragg in a 5-3 win in game one and Eryn Stockman tossed her first career shutout in a 6-0 win in the nightcap.

ABOUT THE GRIFFONS
Missouri Western is 32-14, 16-6 in the MIAA and ranked fifth in the Central Region. They are ranked second in the MIAA with a 2.88 team ERA.

THE SERIES
Emporia State leads the all-time series with Missouri Western 55-27 and have won 23 of the last 29 meetings.

LAST AT BAT WITH WESTERN
Emporia State came from behind in both ends of a double header sweep of Missouri Western.  The Hornets won the first game 4-3 and took a 7-3 win in the second game.

TAYLOR MADE
Short stop Taylor Zordel (Sr./Topeka, Kan.) is questionable for the remainder of the season after getting her hand injured when hit by a pitch at Central Oklahoma. She has played defensively but has not batted in the games since her injury. She is batting .384 on the season and is leading the MIAA in hits with 66, runs at 51 and and is second in stolen bases with 37 in 38 attempts. She had an MIAA record string of 47 straight stolen bases snapped at William Jewell. That is the 16th longest streak in Division II history. She has been the toughest player to strike out in the MIAA with just one K in 172 at bats to rank fourth nationally. She had the most career at bats of any active player in the NCAA regardless of Division at the time of her injury. She is third in career stolen bases at Emporia State with 113, career runs scored with 189, and career hits with 269.   She was a third-team NFCA All-American as a sophomore at short stop.

THAT'S A GOOD ONE
Outfielder Stephanie Goodwin (Sr./Lenexa, Kan.) is one of 25 finalists for the Schutt Sports/NFCA National Division II Player of the Year. is batting .429 with six home runs, 20 doubles and 57 RBI on the season. She is ranked third in the nation in RBI.  She has  the Emporia State and MIAA record for career doubles with 68 and and hits with 279. She is ranked second among active Division II players in career doubles and is third among all three divisions. She is 17th all-time in Division II in career doubles. She is ranked third all-time at Emporia State with 184 career RBI and 191 runs scored. She was an honorable mention Daktronics All-American outfielder last season after earning second-team NFCA and third-team Daktronics All-American honors as a freshman designated player.

IT'S NOT GRAGGING
Third baseman Jessica Gragg (Sr./Topeka, Kan.) is batting .327 with ten doubles, six home runs and 34 RBI on the season. She is leading the MIAA and ranked 24th in the nation in sac flies.  She is a career .360 hitter and was ranked 22nd in the nation last year with 62 RBI as she was selected honorable mention Daktronics All-American by CoSIDA.

CASHING IN
Pitcher/designated player Kaitlyn Caston (Sr./Burlington, Iowa) is 13-5 in 20 starts with three shut outs. She has a 3.02 ERA and opponents are batting .283 against her. She tossed a five inning no hitter against Lincoln. She is batting .302 on the year and has five home runs and 35 RBI. 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.  

NOBEL PRIZE
Right fielder Caitlyn VanVleck (Fr./Liberty, Mo.) is one of 25 finalists for the NFCA National Division II Freshman of the Year. She has started all 48 games and is batting .341 with 35 runs scored and 18 stolen bases.  

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.

UP NEXT
The MIAA Tournament is set to being on Thursday, April 30 at the Blue Valley Recreation Complex in Overland Park, Kan. The first games are scheduled for 6:00 p.m.