HOME DEBUT FOR EMPORIA STATE SOFTBALL THIS WEEKEND

Softball | 3/30/2022 4:23:00 PM

Emporia State Hornets (16-16, 5-3 MIAA)
vs. Northwest Missouri Bearcats (6-25, 0-6 MIAA)
Friday, April 1 • 3:00 p.m. (DH) • Emporia, Kan.
Series Record: ESU leads 54-22 • Last Meeting: at NWMSU 12, ESU 2 (4/2/2021)
vs. Missouri Western Griffons (14-14, 5-3 MIAA)
Saturday, April 2 • 2:00 p.m. (DH) • Emporia, Kan.
Series Record: ESU leads 62-35 • Last Meeting: at MWSU 9, ESU 3 (4/3/2021)
Video: The MIAA Network Live Stats: esuhornets.com
Radio: KFFX 104.9FM (Saturday Game 1 only) • Complete Game Notes in pdf
Up Next: at Neb.-Kearney
Friday, April 8 • 2:00 p.m. (DH) • Kearney, Neb.

FINALLY HOME
Emporia State will make their 2022 home debut after 32 games away from the Trusler Sports Complex. The Hornets will open against Northwest Missouri on Friday and play Missouri Western on Saturday.

LAST AT BAT
Emporia State ran their winning streak to four games with a double header sweep of Central Missouri. The Hornets won both games by the score of 5-2. Gracie Rabe went the distance striking out seven in game one while Sydney Righi scattered eight hits over 6.0 innings, allowing two runs with three strikeouts in game two. Maddy Broxterman was five of eight in the double header.

THE COACHES
April Huddleston-Rosales is 166-165 in her seventh year as the head coach at Emporia State. She has taken the Hornets to two MIAA Championship games and the 2018 NCAA Central Sub-Regional Championship game. She served as an assistant coach for Emporia State for seven seasons. She was a member of both the Hornets national runner-up teams in 2006 and 2008. She is 9-3 against Northwest Missouri and 6-7 against the Griffons.
Naomi Tellez is 6-25 in her first year at Northwest Missouri. This is her first meeting with Emporia State.
Joe Yegge is 14-14 in his first season at Missouri Western. This is his first meeting with Emporia State.

ABOUT THE HORNETS
The Hornets are 16-16, 5-3 in the MIAA. Seven of their losses have been by one run with five coming in their opponents last at bat. Brittanie Shepherd is batting .367 and ranks fourth in the MIAA in doubles. They lead the MIAA and are ranked 21st nationally in stolen bases. Sydney Righi is 5-5 with a 2.50 ERA as six Hornets have started a game in the circle.

ABOUT THE BEARCATS
Northwest Missouri is 6-25, 0-6 in the MIAA. They are batting .269 with an 8.28 ERA.
SERIES HISTORY
The Hornets lead the series 54-22.
LAST MEETING
Emporia State was swept 5-4 and 12-2 at Northwest Missouri last year.

ABOUT THE GRIFFONS
Missouri Western is 14-14, 5-3 in the MIAA. They are third in the MIAA in ERA while Sydney Rader ranks third in the league in strikeouts.
SERIES HISTORY
The Hornets lead the series 62-35.
LAST MEETING
Emporia State earned a split with Missouri Western winning 4-3 in eight innings in the matinee before falling 9-3 in the nightcap.

ON DECK
The Hornets embark on their final regular season road trip next weekend, playing  at Neb.-Kearney on Friday and Fort Hays State on Saturday.

IN THE DUGOUT
April Rosales is 166-165 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.

OUT IN THE FIELD
Outfielder Brittanie Shepherd (Sr./Kansas City, MO) has started every game this season. She is hitting .367 with an OPS of .983 and a .452 on base percentage. She has a .552 average when leading off an inning. She has team-highs of 25 runs, 20 RBI, 12 doubles and two triples.  She is ranked fourth in the MIAA in doubles.
Outfielder Alexis Dial (So./Topeka, KS) is batting .333 with 22 runs scored, nine doubles and 15 RBI. She has also swiped 16 bases in 21 attempts. She is fifth in the MIAA in stolen bases.
Outfielder Emma Furnish (So./Goddard, KS) has scored 13 runs in 23 games and is batting .282 on the season. She has raised her average 92 points over her last nine games and is hitting .388 with even runs and five RBI in that time.
Outfielder Lexi Williams (So./Hutchinson, KS) is leading the MIAA in stolen bases per game with 19 steals in 21 attempts over 26 games. She is batting .288 with 15 runs and 12 RBI.

AROUND THE DIAMOND
First baseman Harley Sturm (Fr./Tecumseh, OK) is batting .245 with two home runs and nine RBI in 24 games. She is also a pitcher and is 4-4 with two saves and a 4.67 ERA in 11 appearances in the circle.
Second baseman Roni Raines (Jr./Topeka, KS) has played in 26 games with 25 starts and has scored 16 runs with 16 RBI. She is batting .278 with a .411 on-base percentage thanks to six walks and 11 hit by pitches.
Second baseman McKensy Glass (So./Wichita, KS) has scored seven runs and has eight RBI in 29 games with 23 starts this season. She is batting .217 on the season but her average goes up to .333 with runners on base and .353 with runners in scoring position.
Shortstop Abbey Ward (Jr./Olathe, KS) has started 83 of 86 games in her Emporia State career. She is batting .282 with two home runs with ten RBI and 18 runs scored this year. She is 14 of 14 in stolen bases to rank seventh in the MIAA.
Third baseman Josie Harrison (Jr./St. Mary's, KS) has a .297 batting average with 13 runs scored and 13 RBI. She is hitting .429 with runners in scoring position. She is also a pitcher and has a 3.78 ERA in 29.2 innings pitched with 27 strikeouts.

BEHIND AND AT THE PLATE
Catcher/designated player Maddy Broxterman (Sr./Meriden, KS) is batting .359 with 11 RBI and ten runs scored in 19 starts this season. She has thrown out two base runners and has a pick-off this year.
Catcher Bailey Flewelling (So./Holton, KS) is batting .257 with six runs and six RBI in 17 starts this season. She has thrown out two base runners this year.
Catcher/third baseman Karly Johnson (So./Lawrence, KS) has 16 RBI and ten runs scored in 30 games with 26 starts. She has three doubles, a triple and two home runs for a .453 slugging percentage.

IN THE CIRCLE
Pitcher Sydney Righi (Jr./Blue Springs, MO) has started 12 games and is the team leader with 61.2 innings pitched. She has a 2.50 ERA with 36 strikeouts and is 5-5 on the year. She is sixth in the MIAA in ERA and tenth in opponents batting average.
Pitcher Gracie Rabe (Fr./Rossville, KS) has a 3.47 ERA in 40.1 innings and is 2-3 on the season. She has six starts with two complete games while appearing in 11 games.
Pitcher Josie Harrison (Jr./St. Mary's, KS) is 1-1 with a save and a 3.78 ERA in 29.2 innings pitched. She has 27 strikeouts in 12 appearances with four starts.  
Pitcher Harley Sturm (Fr./Tecumseh, OK) is 4-4 with two saves and a 4.67 ERA in 11 appearances with three starts.
Pitcher Brylie Bassett (Sr./Oskaloosa, Kan.) is 2-2 with a 3.00 ERA in ten appearances with one start. She has ten strikeouts and six walks in 25.2 innings.
Pitcher Jayda VanAckeren (Fr./Omaha, NE) has pitched in 26.1 innings this season, making six starts in nine appearances. She has a 6.65 ERA and has recorded 17 strikeouts.