EMPORIA STATE SOFTBALL OPENS SEASON THIS WEEKEND IN TOPEKA

Softball | 2/24/2021 2:13:00 PM

Emporia State Hornets (0-0, 0-0 MIAA)
at Ichabod Invitational
vs. Wayne State Wildcats (0-0, 0-0 NSIC)
Friday, Feb. 26, 2021 • 2:00 p.m. • Hummer Sports Complex • Topeka, Kan.
Series Record: ESU leads 7-0 • Last Meeting: at ESU 10, WSC 5 (March 21, 2019)
vs. Rockhurst Hawks (0-0, 0-0 GLVC)
Friday, Feb. 26, 2021 • 4:00 p.m. • Hummer Sports Complex • Topeka, Kan.
Series Record: ESU leads 6-0 • Last Meeting: ESU 3, RU 2 (Feb. 29, 2020)
vs. Missouri-St.Louis Tritons (0-0, 0-0 GLVC)
Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021 • 9:00 a.m. • Hummer Sports Complex • Topeka, Kan.
Series Record: ESU leads 9-7 • Last Meeting: UMSL 11, ESU 1 (Feb. 28, 2020)
vs. Mary Marauders (0-4, 0-0 NSIC)
Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021 • 4:00 p.m. • Hummer Sports Complex • Topeka, Kan.
Series Record: First Meeting • Last Meeting: First Meeting
vs. McKendree Bearcats (0-0, 0-0 NSIC)
Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021 • 12:00 p.m. • Hummer Sports Complex • Topeka, Kan.
Series Record: Series tied 1-1 • Last Meeting: at ESU 5, MC 4 (Feb. 26, 2018)
vs. Minnesota-Crookston Eagles (2-6, 0-0 NSIC)
Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021 • 2:00 p.m. • Hummer Sports Complex • Topeka, Kan.
Series Record: ESU leads 3-0 • Last Meeting: ESU 7, UMC 4 (March 1, 2020)
Next Up: Concordia-St.Paul • Friday, March 5 • Emporia, Kan.
ESU 5-State Classic

ON A BREAK
Emporia State will take the field for the first time in 353 days on Friday when they begin play in the Washburn Ichabod Invitational against Wayne State.

LAST AT BAT
The Hornets had won seven of nine games including a 3-1 record in MIAA play when sports were shutdown last March.  The last competition for Emporia State was a double header split with William Jewell on March 10, 2020.

THE COACHES
April Huddleston-Rosales is 129-126 in her sixth 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 3-0 against Wayne State, 1-0 against Rockhurst, 1-2 against UMSL, 1-1 against McKendree, 1-0 against Minnesota-Crookston and this is her first meeting with Mary.  

ABOUT THE HORNETS
The Hornets were 16-9 a year ago and were  3-1 in the MIAA when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down spring sports.  Emporia State is set to return all but one player off of last year's team.
Rachel Kauss hit .351 with five doubles, 15 RBI and 16 runs scored last year.  Abby Ward hit .371 with 13 runs and 13 stolen bases in 15 attempts.  Gabby Biondo was hitting .341 with four doubles, 15 runs scored, 10 RBI and 10 stolen bases.
Kelsey Phillips was 1-1 in the circle with a 2.33 ERA and batting .409 despit missing 16 games with an injury.  Kerrigan Dixon went 7-0 with a 3.12 ERA while Sydney Righi was 5-4 with a 2.65 ERA and team high 33 strikeouts in 11 appearances.

ON DECK
The Hornets are scheduled to host the ESU 5-States Classic next weekend at the Trusler Sports Complex. They are set to open with Concordia-St. Paul at 3:00 pm on March 5.