#9 Emporia State Hornets (26-8, 9-1 MIAA)
at Central Missouri Jennies (23-9, 5-1 MIAA)
April 4, 2015 • 1:00 p.m. • South Rec Complex • Warrensburg, Mo.
Series Record: ESU leads 57-39 Last Meeting: ESU 6, UCM 2 (May 1, 2014)
Live Stats at UCMat Southwest Baptist Bearcats (12-19, 4-10 MIAA)
April 6, 2015 • 1:00 p.m. • SBU Softball Field • Bolivar, Mo.
Series Record: ESU leads 41-9 Last Meeting: SBU 3, at ESU 0 (April 19, 2014)
Live Stats at SBUComplete notes in pdf Up Next: Ft. Hays State • April 10, 2015 • Trusler Sports Complex • Emporia, Kan.
HITTING THE ROAD
The #9 Hornets head to Missouri around the Easter holiday, playing at Central Missouri on Saturday and at Southwest Baptist on Monday.
LAST AT BAT
Stephanie Goodwin had three doubles to break the Emporia State career record in that category as the then #11 Hornets swept Missouri Southern at the Trusler Sports Complex. The Hornets won game one 9-1 in six innings and then took game two 7-4. Goodwin went two for four with three RBI and a run scored while Taylor Zordel was two for three with two runs and two RBI in the first game. Kaitlin Caston went the distance in the circle, giving up one run on four hits with six strike outs and just two walks in the matinee. Goodwin was three for four with two runs and two RBI and Zordel went two for four with two runs and two RBI to again pace the Hornet offense. Eryn Stockman scattered ten hits over 7.0 innings with three strike outs in the night cap to pick up her tenth win of the season.
THE COACHES
Julie LeMaire is 155-52 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 243-128 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 7-1 against UCM while at Emporia State and 5-1 against SBU while with the Hornets.
Susan Anderson is 257-195 in her ninth year at Central Missouri and 438-367 in her 17th season overall as a head coach. she is 2-22 against Emporia State while at Central Missouri.
Jim Flora is 29-50 in his second year at Southwest Baptist. He is 1-1 against Emporia State.
ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 26-8, 9-1 in the MIAA and ranked #9 in this week's NFCA Division II Top 25. The Hornets lead the MIAA with a 2.45 team ERA and .345 team batting average. Stephanie Goodwin leads the nation with 51 RBI and is batting .453 this year. Taylor Zordel is ninth in the nation in stolen bases with 32 and has a stolen 43 straight. Kaitlyn Caston is 10-2 with a 2.72 ERA while Eryn Stockman is 10-5 with an MIAA best 1.94 ERA in the circle.
ABOUT THE JENNIES
Central Missouri is 23-9, 5-1 in the MIAA. Ali Jo Rogers is hitting .383 with 34 runs scored and a team best 24 stolen bases. In the circle Jakki Prater is 9-4 with a 2.31 ERA and 68 strikeouts.
KNOW THE FOE
Central Missouri is 23-9, 5-1 in the MIAA. Ali Jo Rogers is hitting .383 with 34 runs scored and a team best 24 stolen bases. In the circle Jakki Prater is 9-4 with a 2.31 ERA and 68 strikeouts.
Southwest Baptist is 12-19, 4-10 in the MIAA. Brittanie Halquist is hitting .347 with five home runs and 22 RBI while Kacey Ayers is 7-8 with a 2.94 ERA in the circle.
SERIES HISTORIES
The Hornets lead the all-time series 57-39 and have won 22 of the last 24 games against Central Missouri.
Emporia State leads the all-time series 41-9 and had won 21 in a row against Southwest Baptist before the Bearcats won 3-0 last year on Senior Day at Trusler.
UP NEXT
The Hornets are scheduled to make their debut on the new turf of Turnbull Field on Friday, April 10 against Ft. Hays State. Game one of the double header is set to start at 5:00 p.m. with first pitch ceremonies slated to begin at 4:45 p.m. at Trusler.
TAYLOR MADE
Short stop Taylor Zordel (Sr./Topeka, Kan.) is batting .434 on the season and is leading the MIAA in hits with 56, runs at 42 and stolen bases with 32 in 32 attempts. She has stolen an MIAA record 43 straight bases dating back to last season. That is the 17th longest streak in Division II history. She has been the toughest player to strike out in the MIAA with just one K in 129 at bats to rank 12th nationally. 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 batting .453 on the season with a nation's leading 51 RBI and is leading the MIAA with 16 doubles. She is currently on an 18 game hitting streak. She broke Angela Mahan's Emporia State career record for doubles when she laced her 65th against Missouri Southern last weekend. She is ranked second among active Division II players in career doubles and is third among all three divisions. She is 23rd all-time in Division II in career doubles and is just one away from tying Amanda DeCastro of Pittsburg State's MIAA record of 66 set from 2009-12. 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 .357 with nine doubles and 31 RBI on the season. She is leading the MIAA and ranked eighth in the nation with eight sac flies and is sixth in the MIAA in RBI. She is a career .361 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 10-2 in 12 starts with a pair of shut outs. She tossed a five inning no hitter against Lincoln. She is batting .309 on the year and is second on the team with five home runs. 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.
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.
