EMPORIA STATE SOFTBALL OPENS SEASON IN ARKANSAS THIS WEEKEND

Softball | 2/4/2022 10:19:00 PM

Emporia State Softball
in the Ronnie Hawkins/Mike McGhee Memorial Softball Tournament
at Ouachita Baptist
Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022 • 11:00 a.m. • Arkadelphia, Ark. • Sully Anderson Field
vs. Oklahoma Baptist
Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022 • 1:00 p.m. • Arkadelphia, Ark. • Dee White Field
At Henderson State
Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022 • 11:00 a.m. • Arkadelphia, Ark. • Dee White Field
vs. Ark.-Monticello
Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022 • 1:00 p.m. • Arkadelphia, Ark. • Sully Anderson Field
vs. Cameron
Monday, Feb. 7, 2022 • 11:00 a.m. • Arkadelphia, Ark. • Dee White Field
 
Emporia State will open the 2022 season at the Ronnie Hawkins/Mike McGhee Memorial Softball Tournament in Arkadelphia, Ark. Originally scheduled to play six games on Friday through Sunday, the Hornets will now play five games starting on Saturday and running through Monday.
 
The first game for Emporia State will be against Ouachita Baptist at 11:00 a.m. Saturday on the OBU Campus.  After that the Hornets will head across the street to the Henderson State campus to play Oklahoma Baptist.  Sunday Emporia State will take on co-host Henderson State at 11:00 a.m. before going back across the street to play Ark.-Monticello on the OBU campus.  The final game for Emporia State will be against Cameron on Monday at 11:00 a.m. on the Henderson State campus.
 
The Hornets return six players that started at least ten games last season along with three pitchers with starting experience.
 
Emma Furnish as an honorable mention All-MIAA performer last season. She hit .255 with two home runs, three triples, 20 RBI and 21 runs scored.  The sophomore from Goddard, Kan. had a league high eight outfield assists and was sixth in triples on the season.
 
Abbey Ward was second in the MIAA in stolen bases with 26 in 27 attempts and was tied for seventh in the league with three triples.  The junior shortstop from Olathe, Kan. led Emporia State with 32 runs scored.
 
Roni Raines hit .318 last year with three home runs and 24 RBI.  The junior from Topeka, Kan. played 24 games at designated player and 17 in the outfield last year. She was hit by pitch a league high 13 times last season.
 
Brittanie Shepherd hit .286 with seven doubles and 19 runs scored last year.  The senior from Kansas City, Mo. started all 44 games last year.
 
Alexis Dial started the last 27 games of the season in the outfield last year.  The sophomore from Topeka, Kan. was six of seven on stolen base attempts.
 
Karly Johnson saw action in 16 games with 11 starts at catcher. The sophomore from Lawrence, Kan. threw out four of nine would be base stealers.
 
Josie Harrison was 4-4 with a 4.05 ERA in the circle for the Hornets last year.  The junior from St. Marys, Kan. also hit .313 in 32 at bats.
 
Sydney Righi was 2-5 last year. The junior from Blue Springs, Mo. went 5-4 with a 2.65 ERA as a freshman in 2020.
 
Brylie Bassett appeared in eight games and went 0-1 with two saves. The senior from Oskaloosa, Kan. had a 2.21 ERA in relief last season.