EMPORIA STATE SOFTBALL TO OPEN MIAA PLAY THIS WEEKEND

Softball | 3/10/2022 11:27:00 AM

Emporia State Hornets (11-9, 0-0 MIAA)
at Central Oklahoma Bronchos (17-3, 0-0 MIAA)
Saturday, March 12 • 2:00 p.m. (DH) • Edmond, Okla.
Series Record: UCO leads 32-28 • Last Meeting: UCO 8, ESU 1 (4/18/21)
Live Stats • Video: The MIAA Network
at Newman Jets (5-7, 0-0 MIAA)
Sunday, March 13 • 12:00 p.m. (DH) • Wichita, Kan.
Series Record: ESU leads 19-3 • Last Meeting:  ESU 10, NU 2 (4/17/21)
Live Stats • Video: The MIAA Network
Up Next: vs. William Jewell
Wednesday, March 16 • 2:00 p.m. (DH) • Kansas City, Mo.

MIAA BEGINS
After a two week layoff, Emporia State will open MIAA play with at Central Oklahoma on Saturday and then Newman on Sunday.

LAST AT BAT
The Hornets traveled to Topeka for the Washburn Classic on the final weekend of February. Emporia State went 3-3 in the six games.

THE COACHES
April Huddleston-Rosales is 161-158 in her seventh year as the head coach at Emporia State. She is 2-12 against UCO and 6-2 against Newman.
Cody White is 318-127 in his ninth year as head coach at Central Oklahoma. He is 19-8 against Emporia State.
Andrea Gustafson is 36-95 in her fourth year as head coach at Newman. She is 1-5 against Emporia State.

ABOUT THE HORNETS
The Hornets are 11-9 on the season. The Hornet offense has been led by Brittanie Shepherd has a .435 batting average with an on-base percentage of .514 and a 1.111 OPS. She has 15 RBI and 18 runs scored while starting all 20 games. Alexis Dial is hitting .392 with 12 runs in 19 games. Lexi Williams has 12 runs, 12 RBI and 11 stolen bases in 18 games. Six pitchers have a decision for ESU. Sydney Righi is 3-3 with a 2.45 ERA. Josie Harrison is 1-1 with a 3.27 ERA and team high 24 strikeouts. Harley Sturm is 3-2 with a save and 4.36 ERA.

ABOUT THE BRONCHOS
Central Oklahoma is 17-3 and ranked #10 in the NFCA National Poll. The Bronchos lineup contains six hitters with averages above .300 and are led by Jacee Minter who is batting .460 with 14 extra base hits and an OPS of 1.331. In the circle, Kylee Lynch is 10-0 with a 1.65 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 72.1 innings.
SERIES HISTORY
The Bronchos lead the all-time series 32-28. The two met in the 2012, 2017 and 2018 MIAA Tournament Championship games
LAST MEETING
Emporia State and Central Oklahoma split their doubleheader matchup last season at Trusler with the Hornets winning 5-4 before the Bronchos claimed game two 8-1.

ABOUT THE JETS
Newman is 5-7 heading into Saturday's games against Washburn. Lindsay Mayo is batting .474 with ten runs and nine RBI. Madison Dewitt has a team high 27.0 innings pitched and is 1-4 with a 4.67 ERA.
SERIES HISTORY
The Hornets lead the all-time series 19-3.
LAST MEETING
Emporia State swept Newman 16-8 and 10-2 last season at Trusler.

ON DECK
The Hornets will play William Jewell on Wednesday, March 16. Due to construction to the Cardinals home field, the double header will be played at the Urban Youth Academy in downtown Kansas City, Mo.

IN THE DUGOUT
April Rosales is 161-158 in her seventh season leading the Emporia State softball program. 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 Baseman Josie Harrison (Jr./St. Mary's, KS) has appeared in 19 of 20 games for the Hornets this season and posts a .304 batting average with 11 runs scored and nine RBI. In addition to her abilities at the plate, Harrison also has the second-lowest ERA among the Hornet pitching staff with an ERA of 3.27 in 25.2 innings pitched. She also has a team-high 24 strikeouts.
Second Baseman McKensy Glass (So./Wichita, KS) has started 18 games and made in appearance in all 20 so far this season for the Hornets. She has scored six runs while recording two doubles and seven RBI.
Shortstop Abbey Ward (Jr./Olathe, KS) has started 71 of 74 games in her Emporia State career. She has a team-high two home runs this season and has crossed home 11 times. She is also eight for eight on stolen bases this season.
Third Baseman Karly Johnson (So./Lawrence, KS) is batting .275 and is tied for the team lead with 15 RBI. She has recorded five extra-base hits including three doubles and has scored eight runs.
Designated Player Roni Raines (Jr./Topeka, KS) has played in 17 of 20 games this season and scored 12 runs. She is batting .333 with a .458 on-base percentage and has recorded 10 RBI.

OUT IN THE FIELD
Outfielder Brittanie Shepherd (Sr./Kansas City, MO) has started each game this season. She is hitting .435 with an OPS of 1.111 and a .514 on base percentage. She has team-highs of 18 runs, 15 RBI and eight doubles.
Outfielder Alexis Dial (So./Topeka, KS) is batting .392 with 12 runs scored, six doubles and nine RBI. She has also swiped 8 bases.
Outfielder Lexi Williams (So./Hutchinson, KS) posts a batting average of .319 with 12 runs scored, 12 RBI, four doubles and a team high 11 stolen bases.
Outfielder Emma Furnish (So./Goddard, KS) has scored six runs in 12 games.

BEHIND THE PLATE
Catchers Maddy Broxterman (Sr./Meriden, KS) and Bailey Flewelling (So./Holton, KS) have split time behind the plate this year.
Broxterman is batting .290 with five RBI and four runs scored this season. She has thrown out two base runners this year.
Flewelling is batting .318 with three runs and three RBI in ten starts this season. She has thrown out one base runner this year.

IN THE CIRCLE
Pitcher Sydney Righi (Jr./Blue Springs, MO) has started seven games so far this season for the Hornets and is the team leader in innings pitched with 34.1 so far this season. Righi has also posted a team-best 2.45 ERA in her seven appearances.
Pitcher Josie Harrison (Jr./St. Mary's, KS) has the second-lowest ERA among the Hornet pitching staff with an ERA of 3.27 in 25.2 innings pitched. She also has a team-high 24 strikeouts. In addition to her abilities at the plate, Harrison posts a .304 batting average.
Pitcher Jayda VanAckeren (Fr./Omaha, NE) has pitched in 21.0 innings this season, making four starts and seven total appearances. She has a 4.33 ERA and has recorded 13 strikeouts for the Hornets.
Pitcher Gracie Rabe (Fr./Rossville, KS) has a 3.33 ERA in 21.0 innings in her first season with the Hornets. She has made four starts while adding a pair of relief appearances.
Pitcher Harley Sturm (Fr./Tecumseh, OK) is another freshman presence in the circle for Emporia State. She is 3-2  with a save and a 4.36 ERA in seven appearances.