Emporia State Hornets (0-0, 0-0 MIAA)vs. Henderson State Reddies (0-0, 0-0 GAC)Feb. 5, 2016 • 10:00 a.m. • Durant Multi-Sport Complex • Durant, Okla.
Feb. 7, 2016 • 10:00 a.m. • Durant Multi-Sport Complex • Durant, Okla.
Series Record: ESU leads 6-0 Last Meeting: ESU 8, HSU 3 (2/15/2014)
vs. Southeastern Oklahoma Savage Storm (0-0, 0-0 GAC) Feb. 5, 2016 • 3:00 p.m. • Durant Multi-Sport Complex • Durant, Okla.
Series Record: SEOSU leads 8-5 Last Meeting: at ESU 11, SEO 1 (3/17/2015)
vs. Oklahoma Christian Eagles (0-0, 0-0 Heartland)Feb. 6, 2016 • 10:00 a.m. • Durant Multi-Sport Complex • Durant, Okla.
Series Record: Okla. Christian leads 3-1 Last Meeting: ESU 13 at OC 12 (3/6/2014)
vs. Southwestern Oklahoma Bulldogs (0-0, 0-0 GAC) Feb. 6, 2016 • 12:30 p.m. • Durant Multi-Sport Complex • Durant, Okla.
Series Record: ESU leads 6-3 Last Meeting: ESU 9, SWOSU 6 (2/15/2014)
vs. Arkansas Tech Golden Suns (0-0, 0-0 GAC) Feb. 7, 2016 • 3:00 p.m. • Durant Multi-Sport Complex • Durant, Okla.
Series Record: ESU leads 2-1 Last Meeting: ATU 7, ESU 2 (2/13/2015)
Up Next: Ark.-Monticello 8-State Classic • Bentonville, Ark • Feb. 12-14, 2016
OPENING IN A STORM
Emporia State opens the 2016 season at the Southeastern Regional Invitational. This is the 13th straight year the Hornets have opened the season with a road tournament. They are 37-17 in the previous 12 tournaments.
A LOOK AT THE LAST YEAR
The Hornets went 35-20 overall and 16-10 in the MIAA last spring, missing the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 12 seasons. Stephanie Goodwin was the MIAA Player of the Year and Taylor Zordel Defensive Player of the Year honors in the conference. In October Julie LeMaire stepped down as head coach to take a job in Florida and former Hornet April Huddleston took over the program.
THE?COACHES
April Huddleston is the tenth head coach of the Hornet softball program. She steps in as head coach for her first year having served as an assistant with the Hornets for seven seasons. Huddleston was a member of both the Hornets national runner-up teams in 2006 and 2009, and was named First Team All-MIAA at shortstop her senior year.
Beth Jackson is 185-196 in her eighth season at Henderson State.
Ron Faubion is 630-259 in his 15th season at Southeastern Oklahoma and is 751-299 throughout his collegiate career.
Tom Heath is 652-444-1 in his 21st season at Oklahoma Christian.
Barbara Burnett is 8-37 entering her second season at Southwestern Oklahoma.
ABOUT THE REDDIES
Henderson State was 43-15 last year, 27-7 in the GAC and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. They are picked second in the GAC Preseason Poll.
THE SERIES
The Hornets lead the all-time series 6-0.
ABOUT THE SAVAGE STORM
Southeastern Oklahoma was 32-23 and 24-10 in the GAC last season. They are picked to finish fourth in the GAC this season.
THE SERIES
The Savage Storm leads the all-time series 8-5.
ABOUT THE EAGLES
Oklahoma Christian was 33-21, 13-11 in the Heartland Conference. They are picked to finish fifth in this year's Heartland Preseason Poll.
THE SERIES
The Eagles lead the all-time series 3-1.
ABOUT THE BULLDOGS
Southwestern Oklahoma went 8-37 last season with a 4-29 mark in the GAC. They are picked to finish tenth in the GAC this season.
THE SERIES
The Hornets lead the all-time series 6-3.
ABOUT THE GOLDEN SUNs
Arkansas Tech was 41-22, 22-14 in the GAC and went to the NCAA Tournament last season. They are picked to finish fifth in the GAC this year.
THE SERIES
The Hornets lead the all-time series 2-1.
ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State was ranked sixth in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll. The Hornets have four returning starters from last year's 35-20 team.
Eryn Stockman was 12-9 last season with a 2.34 ERA. Her ERA was the fourth best in the league last year and is the second best returning mark in the league and her opponents batting average of .251 last year is the fourth best in the MIAA.
Danielle Sprinkle was a first-team All-MIAA selection as a utility player after batting .348 with four home runs and 24 RBI. She was one of only two freshman to earn first-team All-MIAA honors last season. She started 23 games at designated player, 20 games in the outfield, and pinch hit in six games. She came on strong late, hitting .449 in 25 conference games.
Jacie Stephens was an honorable mention All-MIAA pick at catcher. She hit .240 with two home runs and 16 RBI but had four pick-offs and threw out 16 of 38 runners attempting to steal on her.
Caitlin VanVleck earned honorable mention All-MIAA honors in the outfield. She hit .347 with four triples, three doubles, a home run and 21 RBI. She also stole 20 bases and scored 38 runs for the Hornets.
Several newcomers will be asked to contribute right away for the Hornets.
Erica Harper is an outfielder/designated player transfer from Barton CC. While a sophomore at Barton, Harper rewrote the single season record book in five different categories - batting .457, with 90 hits, 71 runs, 26 home runs, and 94 RBI. She also reserved a spot on the top of the career records at Barton with a .464 batting average, 156 hits, 35 home runs, 34 doubles, and 141 RBI. Harper was named the conference's Most Valuable Player and was a first-team selection to the KJCCC Division I All-Conference Team along with First-Team All-Region VI and NFCA NJCAA Division I Third-Team All-American.
Sarah Glass is a shortstop transfer from Cowley CC. As a freshman, Glass batted .325 with four home runs and 42 RBI and was named second team all-conference at shortstop. Her sophomore year, she had five home runs while batting a .358 and was named honorable mention all-conference and First Team All-Region VI/District E as a shortstop. She is a native of Wichita, Kan. and graduated from Maize HS.
Holly Hinkel, a sophomore pitcher transferring from Des Moines Area CC, received Second-Team All-Region XI and first-team academic honors while a freshman with the Bears. A native of North Liberty, Iowa, Hinkel made four state appearances, reaching the championship game two of those years with Solon HS.
Hannah Wright is a pitcher/first base freshman from Mount Vernon Township (Ill.) HS. She was named First-Team South Seven All-Conference her sophomore, junior, and senior seasons. She had a career batting average of .432, an on base percentage of .554, and a slugging percentage of .772. In her final regular season game of her high school career, Wright pitched a shutout while hitting two solo home runs and a grand slam.
HORNET HISTORY
The Hornets have been one of the premier softball programs in the nation over the last 15 years. They have the best record in the MIAA in the 21st century, posting a record of 230-92 (.714) in conference action and 653-268 (.709) overall since 2000. Emporia State finished as the NCAA Division II National Runners-up twice, in 2006 and 2008, qualified for NCAA Regional play 11 straight years from 2004-14 and made 12 NCAA Tournament appearances in the last 20 seasons. The Hornets won the NAIA National Championship in 1983 and 1984 and won the AIAW National Championship in 1980.
UP NEXT
The Hornets will travel to Bentonville, Ark. next weekend for the Ark.-Monticello 8-State Classic.
