Softball | 2/25/2022 7:21:00 PM
Emporia State Hornets (8-6, 0-0 MIAA)
vs. Wayne State Wildcats (2-5, 0-0 NSIC)
Saturday, Feb. 26 • 10:30 a.m. • Topeka, Kan.
Live Stats
Series Record: ESU leads 9-0 • Last Meeting: ESU 14, WSC 13 (2/26/21)
vs. Missouri St.-Louis Tritons (1-5, 0-0 GLVC)
Saturday, Feb. 26 • 2:30 p.m. • Topeka, Kan.
Series Record: ESU leads 12-8 • Last Meeting: ESU 5, UMSL 1 (2/21/22)
vs. St. Cloud State Huskies (3-1, 0-0 NSIC)
Sunday, Feb. 27 • 11:30 a.m. • Topeka, Kan.
Live Stats
Series Record: ESU leads 9-3 • Last Meeting: SCSU 8, ESU 0 (2/29/20)
vs. SW Minnesota State Mustangs (3-3, 0-0 NSIC)
Sunday, Feb. 27 • 1:00 p.m. • Topeka, Kan.
Live Stats
Series Record: ESU leads 3-2 • Last Meeting: ESU 5, SMSU 4 (3/1/20)
vs. Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles (6-5, 0-0 NSIC)
Monday, Feb. 28 • 10:00 a.m. • Topeka, Kan.
Live Stats
Series Record: ESU leads 3-0 • Last Meeting: ESU 7, UMC 4 (3/1/20)
vs. Sioux Falls Cougars (1-3, 0-0 NSIC)
Monday, Feb. 28 • 1:00 p.m. • Topeka, Kan.
Series Record: Series tied 3-3 • Last Meeting: USF 5, ESU 3 (3/20/21)
TOPEKA TURNAROUND
Emporia State travels back to Topeka for the Washburn Classic where a six-game slate awaits them.
LAST AT BAT
After the cancellation of the ESU Classic, the Hornets traveled to Topeka for a pair of doubleheaders against Quincy and Missouri St.-Louis. In the first doubleheader against the Quincy Hawks, Emporia State took the first game thanks to a
Karly Johnson walk-off before handling the second game 6-1. In the second doubleheader against UMSL, timely hitting and strong pitching led the Hornets to another pair of victories, 4-0 and 5-1 over the Tritons.
ABOUT THE COACHES
April Huddleston-Rosales is 148-147 in her sixth year as the head coach at Emporia State.
Shelli Manson is 122-196 in her eighth season at Wayne State.
Amanda Scott is 144-98 in her sixth season at Missouri St.-Louis.
Mitch Roberts is 3-1 in his first season at St. Cloud State.
Bailey Bouman is 58-56 in her fourth season at Southwest Minnesota.
Nick Weinmeister is 6-5 in his first season Minnesota Crookston.
Shannan Pivovar is 59-65 in her fourth season at Sioux Falls
ABOUT THE HORNETS
The Hornets are 8-6 on the season following four straight victories last weekend against Quincy and Missouri St.-Louis. The Hornet offense has been led by
Brittanie Shepherd and
Alexis Dial who both post batting averages over .400. Shepherd has tallied 6 doubles and 1 triple and 9 RBI. Sydney RIghi is leading the pitching staff with 6 appearances this season with a 1.75 ERA in 32.0 innings pitched. She has recorded 14 strikeouts while only allowing 11 walks.
ON DECK
The Hornets travel south on I-35 for a pair of doubleheaders against Central Oklahoma on Mar. 11 and Newman on Mar. 12.
IN THE DUGOUT
April Rosales is in her seventh season leading the Emporia State softball program. Through the opening weekend of the 2022 season, her record as head coach is 153-151. Since taking over the program in 2016, Rosales has led the Hornets to an MIAA Tournament Championship, two MIAA Tournament title game appearances, and an appearance in the NCAA Central Sub-Regional Championship.
Rosales was also a member of Emporia State softball during her playing days which included an run to the NCAA Division II National Championship in 2008 which resulted in a National Runner-Up finish. During the 2008 season, she hit .324 with 30 RBI while playing nearly every game at shortstop for the Hornets. She was named First Team All-MIAA that season.
AROUND THE DIAMOND
First Basemen
Brylie Bassett (Sr./Oskaloosa, KS) is in her senior season with the Hornets. She appeared in 24 games last season. While Bassett has appeared mostly as a pinch hitter when playing in the field, much of her experience actually comes from relief appearances in the circle. In 2021, she appeared in eight games, seven of them in relief appearances and tallied seven strikeouts in 14.0 innings pitched.
Second Basemen
Roni Raines (Jr./Topeka, KS) is in her junior season with the Hornets. In 2021, Raines appeared in 41 out of 44 games. She has played multiple infield positions as well as being the designated player. She recorded a .318 batting average while tallying five doubles, three home runs and leading the team with 24 RBI and 13 HBP.
Shortstop
Abbey Ward (Jr./Olathe, KS) is one of four players and one of three that are returning to the Hornets to have started each game in 2021. Ward has been a staple at shortstop since the 2020 season and in 2021 she led Emporia State in multiple categories including plate appearances, walks, triples, total bases, home runs, and stolen bases where she was successful 96.3% (26/27) of the time. She also tallied 17 RBI and a .457 slugging percentage.
Third Basemen
Karly Johnson (So./Lawrence, KS) has appeared in 13 games this season for the Hornets, primarily at third base. She is batting .297 on the season with five extra-base hits including a home run. Johnson also leads the team in RBI with 13 on the season, including a game-winning RBI against Quincy last weekend in Topeka.
OUT IN THE FIELD
Outfielder
Alexis Dial (So./Topeka, KS) has appeared in 13 of 14 games this season recording a .410 batting average with a 1.029 OPS. In addition to her early success at the plate, Dial has swiped six stolen bases and has been error-free in the outfield.
Outfielder
Brittanie Shepherd (Sr./Kansas City, MO) has paced the Hornet offense with a .477 batting average and an OPS of 1.217 with 6 doubles and a triple. Shepherd has 9 RBI and also a stolen base on the season.
Outfielder
Emma Furnish (So./Goddard, KS) is the third returning Hornet to have started in all 44 games in 2021. The right fielder recorded a .451 slugging percentage with eight doubles, 3 triples and a pair of home runs while tallying 20 RBI. In addition to her presence at the plate, Furnish also recorded seven stolen bases and eight outfield assists.
IN THE CIRCLE
Pitcher
Sydney Righi (Jr./Blue Springs, MO) has started six games this season for the Hornets and posted an ERA of 1.75 in 32.0 innings pitched. Last weekend against Missouri St. Louis, Righi posted a 6.0 inning performance allowing only one run.
Pitcher
Josie Harrison (Jr./St. Mary's, KS) has pitched in five games this seasons, including two starts in the circle. She has posted a 3.50 in 18.0 innings while recording 16 strikeouts.
Pitcher
Gracie Rabe (Fr./Rossville, KS) appeared in two games in her first weekend as a Hornet. She pitched 5.2 scoreless innings allowing only three hits in 22 at-bats faced.
Pitcher
Harley Sturm (Fr./Tecumseh, OK) is another freshman presence in the circle for Emporia State. She had a win and a save in relief against Quincy, twice coming in with the bases loaded and not allowing a run. During opening weekend, Sturm made one scoreless relief appearance that lasted 5.1 innings allowing only three hits.
