FINAL REGULAR SEASON ROAD TRIP FOR EMPORIA STATE SOFTBALL

Softball | 4/7/2022 11:26:00 AM

Emporia State Hornets (18-18, 7-5 MIAA)
at Neb.-Kearney Lopers (18-14, 8-2 MIAA)
Friday, April 8 • 2:00 p.m. (DH) • Kearney, Neb.
Series Record: ESU leads 25-16 • Last Meeting: at ESU 5, UNK 0 (3/26/2021)
at Fort Hays State TIgers (16-19-1, 2-6 MIAA)
Saturday, April 9 • 12:00 p.m. (DH) • Hays, Kan.
Series Record: ESU leads 46-32 • Last Meeting: FHSU 7, at ESU 5 (3/27/2021)
Video: The MIAA Network Live Stats: esuhornets.com
Complete Notes in pdf
Up Next: Rockhurst
Tuesday, April 12 • 3:00 p.m. (DH) • Emporia, Kan.

FINAL ROAD TRIP
Emporia State heads west for their final road trip of the regular season. They play at Neb.-Kearney on Friday and Fort Hays State on Saturday.

LAST AT BAT
Emporia State had the tying run at the plate in their final at bat in both games but saw their six game winning streak come to an end with a pair of losses to Missouri Western. The opener was a pitchers' duel with one swing of the bat being the difference in a 2-1 loss to Missouri Western. After just three runs and nine combined hits in the opener, the two teams passed that total by the end of the second inning in a 9-7 Missouri Western win in the night cap.

THE COACHES
April Huddleston-Rosales is 168-167 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 6-4 against Neb.-Kearney and 4-6 against Fort Hays State.
Katie Ackermann is 48-52 in her third year as head coach for the Lopers.  She is 0-2 against Emporia State.
Adrian Pilkington is 159-202-1 in her eighth year as head coach for the Tigers.  She is 6-6 against Emporia State.

ABOUT THE HORNETS
The Hornets are 18-18, 7-5 in the MIAA. Eight of their losses have been by one run with five coming in their opponents last at bat. They lead the MIAA and are ranked 15th nationally in total stolen bases with Lexi Williams leading the league with 24. Sydney Righi is 6-6 with a 2.60 ERA as six Hornets have started a game in the circle.

ABOUT THE LOPERS
Neb.-Kearney is 18-14, 8-2 in the MIAA. Katie Gosker has a team high nine home runs but has struck out a league high 31 times.
SERIES HISTORY
The Hornets lead the series 25-16 and have won five straight in the series.
LAST MEETING
Emporia State pitchers combined for two shutouts as they swept Neb.-Kearney. Kelsey Phillips tossed a two hit shutout in the 2-0 Hornet win in the matinee. Josie Harrison went the distance in a 5-0 Hornet win in the nightcap.

ABOUT THE TIGERS
Fort Hays State is 16-19-1, 2-6 in the MIAA. Savanah Egger is second in the MIAA in saves and fourth in strikeouts.
SERIES HISTORY
The Hornets lead the series 46-32 and have won three of the last four meetings.
LAST MEETING
Emporia State split a double header with Fort Hays State, winning game one 5-0 before dropping the second game 7-5.

IN THE DUGOUT
April Rosales is 168-167 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 every game this season. She is hitting .361 with an OPS of .966 and a .457 on base percentage. She has a .556 average when leading off an inning. She has team-highs of 29 runs, 21 RBI, 12 doubles and two triples.  She is ranked fifth in the MIAA in doubles and walks.
Outfielder Alexis Dial (So./Topeka, KS) is batting .337 with 24 runs scored, ten doubles and 17 RBI. She has also swiped 19 bases in 24 attempts. She is second in the MIAA in stolen bases and fifth in doubles.
Outfielder Lexi Williams (So./Hutchinson, KS) is leading the MIAA in stolen bases per game with 22 steals in 24 attempts over 29 games. She is batting .316 with 18 runs and 13 RBI.
Outfielder Emma Furnish (So./Goddard, KS) has scored 13 runs in 27 games and is batting .262 on the season.

AROUND THE DIAMOND
First baseman Harley Sturm (Fr./Tecumseh, OK) is batting .323 with two home runs and 11 RBI in 28 games. She is on a seven game hitting streak and is batting .500 with seven runs scored during the streak. She is also 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 29 games with 27 starts and has scored 17 runs with 19 RBI. She is batting .282 with a .418 on-base percentage. She is second in the MIAA with 11 hit by pitches.
Second baseman McKensy Glass (So./Wichita, KS) has scored eight runs and has 14 RBI in 32 games with 25 starts this season. She is batting .260 on the season but her average goes up to .382 with runners on base and .409 with runners in scoring position.
Shortstop Abbey Ward (Jr./Olathe, KS) has started 87 of 90 games in her Emporia State career. She is batting .270 with two home runs, ten RBI and 21 runs scored this year. She is 17 of 17 in stolen bases to rank sixth in the MIAA.
Third baseman Karly Johnson (So./Lawrence, KS) has 17 RBI and 12 runs scored in 34 games with 30 starts. She has four doubles, a triple and two home runs.
Corner infielder Josie Harrison (Jr./St. Mary's, KS) has a .293 batting average with 13 runs scored and 13 RBI. She is hitting .414 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
Designated player Maddy Broxterman (Sr./Meriden, KS) is batting .373 with 16 RBI and 11 runs scored in 25 games this season. She has thrown out two base runners and has a pick-off in 12 games at catcher this year.
Catcher Bailey Flewelling (So./Holton, KS) is batting .289 with seven runs and six RBI in 21 starts this season. She has thrown out two base runners this year.

IN THE CIRCLE
Pitcher Sydney Righi (Jr./Blue Springs, MO) has started 14 games and is the team leader with 67.1 innings pitched. She has a 2.60 ERA with 37 strikeouts and is 6-6 on the year. She is seventh in the MIAA in ERA.
Pitcher Gracie Rabe (Fr./Rossville, KS) has a 3.19 ERA in 48.1 innings and is 2-4 on the season. She has seven starts with three complete games while appearing in 13 games. She is tenth in the MIAA in opponents batting average.
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 3.37 ERA in 11 appearances with two start. She has ten strikeouts and six walks in 27.0 innings.
Pitcher Jayda VanAckeren (Fr./Omaha, NE) has pitched in 35.1 innings this season, making seven starts in 11 appearances. She has a 5.15 ERA and has recorded 25 strikeouts.

ON DECK
The Hornets return to Trusler for their final 12 games starting with a non-conference double header against Rockhurst on April 12. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m.