EMPORIA STATE SOFTBALL OPENS MIAA PLAY AGAINST PITT STATE AND SOUTHERN

Softball | 3/5/2020 11:51:00 AM

Emporia State Hornets (12-7, 0-0 MIAA)
vs. Pittsburg State (8-15, 0-0 MIAA)
Friday, March 6, 2020 • 2:00 p.m. DH • Trusler Complex • Emporia, Kan.
Series Record: ESU leads 78-54 • Last Meeting: ESU 3, PSU 2 (May 2, 2019)
vs. Missouri Southern Lions (10-6, 0-0 MIAA)
Saturday, March 7, 2020 • 12:00 p.m. DH • Trusler Complex • Emporia, Kan.
Series Record: MSSU leads 41-40 • Last Meeting: at ESU 6, MSSU 0 (April 1, 2019)
Live Stats • Complete Notes in pdf
Next Up: William Jewell • Tuesday, March 10 • 2:00 p.m. DH
Trusler Sports Complex • Emporia, Kan.

MIAA OPENER
Emporia State begins MIAA play against Pittsburg State on Friday and Missouri Southern on Saturday at Trusler.

LAST WEEK
The Hornets went 4-2 at the WU Invitational. They defeated Sioux Falls 13-6, lost to UMSL 11-1 and St. Cloud State 80, and won their last three games 3-2 over Rockhurst, 7-4 against Minn.-Crookston and 5-4 against Southwest Minnesota.

THE COACHES
April Huddleston-Rosales is 125-124 in her fifth year as the head coach at Emporia State. She served as an assistant for seven seasons. She was a member of both the Hornets national runner-up teams in 2006 and 2008. She is 6-4 against Pittsburg State and 6-3 against Missouri Southern.
Ashley Balazs is 57-75 in her third year at Pittsburg State and 73-103 in her fourth year as a head coach. She is 1-4 against Emporia State.
Bailey Bouman  is 29-31 in her second year at MSSU. She is 0-2 against Emporia State.

ABOUT THE HORNETS
As a team the Hornets are sixth in the MIAA in batting average at .296, seventh with a 3.36 team ERA and seventh in fielding with a .959 fielding percentage while leading the league in double plays.  Hannah Steeby is leading the MIAA in home runs and stolen bases and ranks in the top ten in slugging percentage, on base percentage, RBI, and runs scored. In the circle Sydney Righi is 4-3 with a 2.70 ERA while Kerrigan Dixon is 5-0 with two saves.

SCOUTING THE GORILLAS
Pittsburg State is 8-15 on the year but have won six of their last eight games. They are ranked 14th in the MIAA in batting with a .228 average and in pitching with a 5.88 ERA.
SERIES HISTORY
The Hornets lead the all-time series 78-54 and six of the last seven contests between the two.
LAST AT BAT WITH PITT STATE
Hannah Steeby had three RBI including the game winner in the bottom of the seventh as Emporia State stayed alive in the MIAA Tournament with a 3-2 walk off victory over Pittsburg State in Edmond, Okla.

SCOUTING THE LIONS
Missouri Southern is 10-6 on the year and have won four in a row entering the weekend. They are second in the MIAA with a .333 batting average and rank ninth with a 4.38 team ERA.
SERIES HISTORY
The Lions lead the all-time series 41-38, but the Hornets have won six of the last seven meetings.
LAST AT BAT WITH MO. SOUTHERN
Emporia State softball moved their MIAA winning streak to five games with a double header sweep of Missouri Southern at the Trusler Sports Complex.  The Hornets walked off to win the matinee 4-3 and then got a shut out 6-0 in the night cap.

ON DECK
The Hornets will play  host to William Jewell in a non-conference double header on Tuesday, March 10 at Trusler. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.