EMPORIA STATE SOFTBALL PLAYS HOST TO ROGERS STATE AND NORTHEASTERN STATE

Softball | 4/23/2022 11:16:00 AM

Emporia State Hornets (22-24, 11-9 MIAA)
vs. #8 Rogers State Hillcats (38-6, 15-3 MIAA)
Sunday, April 24 • 2:00 p.m. (DH) • Emporia, Kan.
Series Record: RSU leads 4-2 • Last Meeting: at RSU 7, ESU 1 (4/30/2021)
vs. Northeastern State RiverHawks (23-20, 11-7 MIAA)
Monday, April 25 • 1:00 p.m. (DH) • Emporia, Kan.
Series Record: ESU leads 31-24 • Last Meeting: ESU 2, at NSU 1 (5/1/2021)
Video: The MIAA Network Live Stats: esuhornets.com
Radio: KFFX 104.9FM (Sunday Game 1 only) Internet Audio: kvoe.com (Sunday Game 1 only)
Up Next: Washburn
Saturday, April 30 • 1:00 p.m. (DH) • Emporia, Kan.

PUSHED BACK
Due to thunderstorms in the forecast across Northeast Kansas on Saturday, Emporia State plays host to #8 Rogers State and Northeastern State in a rare Sunday-Monday set up.

LAST AT BAT
Emporia State earned their fourth straight MIAA double header split, trading 7-2 scores with Missouri Southern on Saturday at the Trusler Sports Complex.
The Hornets left eight runners on base and the Lions scored five runs in the last two innings as Southern won 7-2 in the opener. It was the Hornets turn to score last in the nightcap on the way to a 7-2 win of their own.

THE COACHES
April Rosales is 172-173 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 was as an assistant coach for ESU for seven seasons and a member of the Hornets national runner-up teams in 2006 and 2008. She is 2-4 against Rogers State and 7-4 against Northeastern State.
Andrea Vaughan is 210-131-1 in her seventh year as head coach at Rogers State. She is 4-2 against Emporia State.
Clay Davis is 251-237-1 in his tenth year as head coach for the RiverHawks.  He is 9-11 against Emporia State.

ABOUT THE HORNETS
The Hornets are 22-24, 11-9 in the MIAA. Ten of their losses have been by one run with seven coming in their opponents last at bat. They lead the MIAA and are ranked 13th nationally in total stolen bases with Lexi Williams leading the league with 29. Sydney Righi is 7-9 with a 2.89 ERA as six Hornets have started a game in the circle.

ABOUT THE HILLCATS
Rogers State is 38-6, 15-3 in the MIAA, ranked #8 in the NFCA National Poll and #2 in the NCAA Central Regional Poll. Their pitching staff leads the MIAA and is ranked third in the nation with 16 shutouts.
SERIES HISTORY
The Hillcats lead the all-time series 4-2.
LAST MEETING
The long ball did Emporia State in as Rogers State hit six home runs in a double header sweep of the Hornets in Claremore, Okla.  The Hillcats won game one 6-1 and took the second game 7-1.

ABOUT THE RIVERHAWKS
Northeastern State is 23-20, 11-7 in the MIAA. They are second in the MIAA and 13th in the nation in home runs.
SERIES HISTORY
The Hornets lead the series 31-24.
LAST MEETING
Emporia State ended the abbreviated 2021 season with a double header sweep at Northeastern State.  The Hornets won the matinee 4-2 and then took the nightcap 2-1.

IN THE DUGOUT
April Rosales is 172-173 in her seventh season as the Emporia State head coach and 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 a member of Emporia State softball during her playing days which included an run to the NCAA Division II National Championship game in 2008.

OUT IN THE FIELD
Outfielder Brittanie Shepherd (Sr./Kansas City, MO) has started 160 of 161 games in her Hornet career. She is hitting .359 with a .444 on base percentage. She has a .531 average when leading off an inning. She has team-highs of 37 runs and 15 doubles.  She is ranked third in the MIAA and 24th in the nation in total doubles.
Outfielder Alexis Dial (So./Topeka, KS) is batting .299 with 28 runs scored, ten doubles and 17 RBI. She has also swiped 20 bases in 25 attempts. She is third in the MIAA in stolen bases and ninth in doubles.
Outfielder Lexi Williams (So./Hutchinson, KS) is leading the MIAA in stolen bases with 29 steals in 33 attempts over 39 games. She is batting .320 with 24 runs and 14 RBI.
Outfielder Emma Furnish (So./Goddard, KS) is batting .344 and has scored 21 runs in 37 games on the season. She is batting a team best .447 in conference games with a 1.154 OPS and is nine of nine on stolen base attempts.

AROUND THE DIAMOND
Corner infielder Josie Harrison (Jr./St. Mary's, KS) has a .289 batting average with 14 runs scored and 14 RBI. She is hitting .387 with runners in scoring position. She is also a pitcher and has a 3.07 ERA in 41.0 innings pitched with 35 strikeouts.
Second baseman McKensy Glass (So./Wichita, KS) has scored ten runs and has 15 RBI in 41 games with 32 starts this season. She is batting .253 on the season with a .389 average in MIAA games. For the season she is hitting .341 with runners on base and .357 with runners in scoring position.
Shortstop Abbey Ward (Jr./Olathe, KS) has started 97 of 99 games in her Emporia State career. She is batting .298 with two home runs, 14 RBI, 30 runs and a team high three triples this year. She is 22 of 22 in stolen bases to rank second in the MIAA.
Third baseman Karly Johnson (So./Lawrence, KS) has 19 RBI and 16 runs scored in 43 games with 39 starts. She has five doubles, a triple and two home runs.
First baseman Harley Sturm (Fr./Tecumseh, OK) is batting .262 with two home runs and 13 RBI in 34 games. She has missed the last four games with an injury. She is also 5-5 with two saves and a 4.53 ERA in 14 appearances in the circle.
Second baseman Roni Raines (Jr./Topeka, KS) has played in 33 games with 30 starts and has scored 18 runs with 19 RBI. She has missed the last five games with an injury. She is batting .256 with a .404 on-base percentage. She has been hit by pitch 14 times to lead the MIAA and rank sixth in the nation.

BEHIND AND AT THE PLATE
Designated player Maddy Broxterman (Sr./Meriden, KS) is batting .375 with a team high 31 RBI while scoring 15 runs scored in 35 games this season. She is batting .429 with an 1.153 OPS in 19 MIAA games.
Catcher Bailey Flewelling (So./Holton, KS) is batting .292 with ten runs and 12 RBI in 31 starts this season. She has thrown out two base runners this year.

IN THE CIRCLE
Pitcher Sydney Righi (Jr./Blue Springs, MO) has started 16 games with 19 appearances and is the team leader with 87.1 innings pitched. She has a 2.89 ERA with 46 strikeouts and is 7-9 on the year. She is seventh in the MIAA in ERA.
Pitcher Gracie Rabe (Fr./Rossville, KS) is 4-5 with a 3.24 ERA in 71.1 innings this season. She has 11 starts with four complete games, a shutout and a combined shutout in 18 appearances.
Pitcher Jayda VanAckeren (Fr./Omaha, NE) has pitched in 43.0 innings this season, making eight starts in 16 appearances. She has a y6.35 ERA and has recorded 28 strikeouts.
Pitcher Josie Harrison (Jr./St. Mary's, KS) is 1-1 with a save and a 3.07 ERA in 41.0 innings pitched. She has 35 strikeouts in 14 appearances with six starts.  
Pitcher Brylie Bassett (Sr./Oskaloosa, Kan.) is 2-2 with a 4.15 ERA in 13 appearances with two starts. She has 11 strikeouts and seven walks in 28.2 innings.

ON DECK
The Hornets wrap up the regular season with a Senior Day Turnpike Tussle against Washburn on Saturday, April 30 at the Trusler Sports Complex. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.