Emporia State Hornets (18-16, 4-4 MIAA) Â
vs. Lindenwood Lions (9-9, 0-2 MIAA)
Friday. March 24 • 2:00 p.m. • Trusler Complex • Emporia, Kan.
Series: ESU leads 10-1 Last: ESU 13, at LWU 10 (3/4/2016)
vs. Lincoln Blue Tigers (3-19, 0-2 MIAA)
Saturday. March 25 • 1:00 p.m. • Trusler Complex • Emporia, Kan.
Series: ESU leads 26-1 Last: at LU 13, ESU 12 (3/5/2016)
Saturday only Radio: KVOE 1400AM/96.9FMÂ Live Desktop Internet:
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Live StatsÂ
Complete Notes in pdf
Up Next: at William Jewell (DH) • Wed., March 29 • 2:00 p.m. • Liberty, Mo.
LIONS AND TIGERS AND...
The Hornets take on Lindenwood and Lincoln this weekend at the Trusler Sports Complex. Saturday will be Emporia State's first ever Teal Day to raise awareness of ovarian cancer.
LAST AT BAT
Emporia State nearly spoiled #16 Central Oklahoma's dedication of their new softball stadium before falling 4-3 in the opener of the double header between the two in Edmond, then lost 9-0 in the night cap.
In the first game Katie Rae Nordman went one for three with two RBI while Danielle Sprinkle was one for two with a solo home run and a walk. Eryn Stockman allowed four runs, two of them earned, as she scattered ten hits over 6.0 innings with two strike outs and four walks.
In the night cap Caitlin VanVleck reached base three times on a single, a fielder's choice and a walk while Annelise Rockley had a double for the other Hornet hit. Holly Hinkel started for Emporia State and faced seven batters, giving up seven runs, before Stockman came in to pitch the final 4.0 innings and allow two runs on five hits.
THE COACHES
April Huddleston is 39-48 in her second year as the head coach at Emporia State. She is the tenth head coach of the Hornet softball program. She is head coach after 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 2008, and was named First Team All-MIAA at shortstop her senior year. She is 2-0 against Lindenwood and 1-1 against Lincoln.
Liz Kelly is 9-9 at Lindenwood in her first season and has over 400 wins in 14 seasons as a head coach.
Chad Kerr is 8-69 in his second year at Lincoln. He is 1-1 against Emporia State.
ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 18-16 on the season and 4-4 in MIAA play. The Hornets lead the MIAA in doubles and stolen bases while ranking second in runs and RBI. McKenna Davis leads the MIAA with 18 stolen bases. Sarah Glass is second in doubles with ten and ranks fifth with 24 runs scored.
As a team Emporia State is second in the MIAA and 15th in the nation with eight shutouts. Eryn Stockman is second in the MIAA in wins with 11, and ranks fifth with a 1.96 ERA and 54 strikeouts.
ABOUT LINDENWOOD
The Lions are 9-9, 0-2 in the MIAA but have won six of their last nine games. Faith Koffron is batting .417 to rank sixth in the MIAA.
THE SERIES
Emporia State leads the all-time series with Lindenwood 10-1.
LAST AT BAT VS. LIONS
Emporia State swept Lindenwood, winning 13-4 and 13-10 in St. Charles, Mo.
ABOUT LINCOLN
The Blue Tigers are 3-19 overall and 0-2 in the MIAA. Kiley Kerr is batting a team best .283 with six stolen bases.
THE SERIES
Emporia State leads the all-time series with Lincoln 26-1 with the first loss coming last year.
LAST AT BAT VS. BLUE TIGERS
Emporia State split at double header in Jefferson City, winning 10-0 in five innings before falling 13-12 in the nightcap.
UP NEXT
Emporia State plays their final regular season non-conference action on March 29 when they travel to Liberty, Mo. to take on William Jewell. First pitch is set for 2:00 p.m.
HORNET HITTING
The Hornets lead the MIAA with 56 doubles and 61 stolen bases. Emporia State is second in runs scored with 150 and RBI with 133.
McKenna Davis leads the conference with 18 stolen bases, is second with 105 at-bats, third with 14 walks and eighth with six doubles.
Sarah Glass comes in third in the MIAA with 11 doubles, eighth with 24 runs, and 11th with seven stolen bases.
Caitlin VanVleck sits fifth with 11 stolen bases.
Jacie Stephens is tied for third in the MIAA with nine doubles and is seventh with 33 hits.
Cassidy Berry is tied for eighth with eight stolen bases.
Hailey Cope is tied for eighth with seven doubles.
EMPORIA STATE PITCHING
Emporia State pitching has a 3.44 ERA and ranks second in the MIAA and 15th in the nation with eight shut outs.
Eryn Stockman is second in the conference with 118.0 innings pitched, comes in fourth with a .225 opponent batting average and is fifth with a 1.96 ERA. Stockman is sixth in the MIAA with 61 strikeouts. She is one of four MIAA players with at least ten wins.
TRENDS
The Hornets are 14-0 when they hold opponents to two runs or less.
When Emporia State leads after four innings, they are 13-2.
The Hornets are out-scoring opponents 37-12 in the fourth inning.
Hailey Cope is currently on a team best seven game active hitting streak.
TOURNAMENTS WITH HUDDLESTON
Huddleston is 21-18 in tournament play as head coach at Emporia State. The Hornets went 4-1 at the St. Cloud Indoor Tournament last season and 2-2 at the Ark.-Monticello Tournament in 2016. In the 2017 season, Huddleston went 1-4 at the Southeastern Oklahoma State Tournament, 4-2 at the ASU George McCorkle Challenge, 5-1 at the 8-States Classic and 3-3 at the St. Cloud Indoor Tournament.
SUCCESS IN MAY
Emporia State has played in 12 NCAA Tournaments with 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 14 MIAA Tournament championship games with eight titles. Since 2001 the Hornets are 49-16 (.753) in 49-16 (.753) in MIAA Tournament play with a 48-12 (.800) record over the last 13 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 in 11 of the last 13 years and 12 times in the last 21 seasons. The Hornets won the NAIA National Championship in 1983 and 1984 and won the AIAW National Championship in 1980.
The Hornets were MIAA regular season champions four straight years from 2005-08 and MIAA Tournament champions seven straight years running from 2004-10. Emporia State has claimed the regular season title (2005-08, 2010-12, 2014) and the tournament title (2004-10, 2012) eight times each in the 21st Century.
