Softball | 5/5/2022 11:34:00 PM
Emporia State Hornets (24-29, 13-13 MIAA)
vs. Northeastern State RiverHawks (28-24, 16-10 MIAA)
Friday, May 6 • 11:00 a.m. • Edmond, Okla.
Series Record: ESU leads 32-25 •
Last Meeting: NSU 2, at ESU 1 (4/23/2022)
Video:
The MIAA Network Live Stats:
esuhornets.com
Complete Notes in pdf
Up Next: MIAA Third Round
Saturday, May 7 • 10:00 a.m. vs. RSU or UNK • Edmond, Okla.
WIN OR GO HOME
Emporia State meets Northeastern State in the first elimination game of the MIAA Tournament at Gerry Pinkston Stadium in Edmond, Okla.
LAST AT BAT
Emporia State was no hit for the first time since Feb. 7, 2016 in an 8-0 loss to Washburn in the opening game. The Hornets got three runners on base but could not overcome a pair of four run innings by the Ichabods.
THE COACHES
April Rosales is 174-177 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 8-5 against Northeastern State.
Clay Davis is 256-241-1 in his tenth year as head coach for the RiverHawks. He is 10-12 against Emporia State.
ABOUT THE HORNETS
The Hornets are 24-29, 13-13 in the MIAA. They lead the MIAA and are ranked 11th nationally in total stolen bases.
Lexi Williams leads the league and is ranked 16th in the nation with 34 steals while
Abbey Ward's 27 steals rank second in the MIAA.
Brittanie Shepherd is third in the MIAA and 12th in the nation with 18 doubles.
Sydney Righi is 8-11 with a 2.98 ERA while
Gracie Rabe is 4-7 with a 2.98 ERA as well. Six Hornets have started a game in the circle this year.
ABOUT THE RIVERHAWKS
Northeastern State is 28-24, 16-10 in the MIAA and are the #5 seed in the MIAA Tourney. They fell to fourth seeded Missouri Western 4-0 in their first game. As a team they are second in the MIAA and 12th in the nation in home runs while ranking last in the conference and 266th out of 277 teams nationally in stolen bases. Chloe Bohuslavicky and Addy Wolfe both have at least ten home runs this season.
SERIES HISTORY
The Hornets lead the series 32-25 and had won seven straight in the series before a 2-1 loss earlier this season. The pair have split four games in MIAA Tournament play with Emporia State knocking Northeastern State out of the tourney in their last meeting in 2019.
LAST MEETING
Emporia State had a dramatic walk off win in game one before falling by a run in game two of a split with Northeastern State at the Trusler Sports Complex. The Hornets won the matinee 10-8 in eight innings before falling 2-1 in the nightcap.
Jayda VanAckeren got the win in relief and provided the game winning home run in the Hornets 10-8 walk-off win in the opener. Two solo home runs by the RiverHawks cost the Hornets in the nightcap
ON DECK
The winner will advance to Saturday morning to take on the loser of the game between Rogers State and Neb.-Kearney. First pitch of what could be three games in one day is set for 10:00 a.m. in Edmond.
IN THE DUGOUT
April Rosales is 174-177 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. She is 11-6 in the MIAA Tournament. 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 167 of 168 games in her Hornet career. She is hitting .352 with a .440 on base percentage. She has a .483 average when leading off an inning. She has team-highs of 41 runs and 18 doubles. She is ranked third in the MIAA and 12th in the nation in total doubles. She is tied for sixth on the Emporia State single season list.
Outfielder
Alexis Dial (So./Topeka, KS) is batting .291 with 30 runs scored, ten doubles and 17 RBI. She has also swiped 22 bases in 29 attempts. She is fifth in the MIAA in stolen bases.
Outfielder
Lexi Williams (So./Hutchinson, KS) is leading the MIAA in stolen bases with 34 steals in 39 attempts over 46 games. She is batting .330 with 27 runs and 15 RBI.
Outfielder
Emma Furnish (So./Goddard, KS) is batting .310 and has scored 21 runs in 42 games with 31 starts this season. She is batting .378 in conference games and is nine of nine on stolen base attempts in conference play.
AROUND THE DIAMOND
First baseman
Harley Sturm (Fr./Tecumseh, OK) is batting .250 with two home runs and 13 RBI in 36 games. She had missed the previous eight games with an injury before returning to the line up against Washburn in the regular season finale. She is also 5-5 with two saves and a 4.53 ERA in 15 appearances in the circle.
Second baseman
McKensy Glass (So./Wichita, KS) has scored 12 runs and has 16 RBI in 48 games with 39 starts this season. She is batting .237 on the season with a .321 average in MIAA games. For the season she is hitting .324 with runners in scoring position.
Shortstop
Abbey Ward (Jr./Olathe, KS) has started 104 of 106 games in her Emporia State career. She is batting .282 with two home runs, 17 RBI, 32 runs and a team high three triples this year. She is 27 of 27 in stolen bases to rank second in the MIAA.
Third baseman
Karly Johnson (So./Lawrence, KS) has 20 RBI and 16 runs scored in 50 games with 46 starts. She has six doubles, a triple and two home runs.
Corner infielder
Josie Harrison (Jr./St. Mary's, KS) has a .297 batting average with 17 runs scored and 16 RBI. She is hitting .353 with runners in scoring position. She is also a pitcher and has a 4.06 ERA in 41.1 innings pitched with 36 strikeouts.
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 11 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 despite missing a total of 19 games.
BEHIND AND AT THE PLATE
Designated player
Maddy Broxterman (Sr./Meriden, KS) is batting .336 with a team high 35 RBI while scoring 17 runs scored in 42 games this season. She is batting .360 with an 1.003 OPS in 25 MIAA games.
Catcher
Bailey Flewelling (So./Holton, KS) is batting .278 with ten runs, three home runs and 14 RBI in 38 starts this season. She has thrown out two base runners this year.
IN THE CIRCLE
Pitcher
Sydney Righi (Jr./Blue Springs, MO) has started 19 games with 24 appearances and is the team leader with 105.2 innings pitched. She has a 2.98 ERA with 58 strikeouts and is 8-11 on the year.
Pitcher
Gracie Rabe (Fr./Rossville, KS) is 4-7 with a 2.98 ERA in 87.0 innings this season. She has 14 starts with four complete games, a shutout and a combined shutout in 22 appearances. She is tenth in the MIAA in ERA.
Pitcher
Jayda VanAckeren (Fr./Omaha, NE) has pitched in 47.0 innings this season, making eight starts in 18 appearances. She has a 6.40 ERA and has recorded 31 strikeouts. She also hit a game winning walk-off home run against Northeastern State.
Pitcher
Brylie Bassett (Sr./Oskaloosa, Kan.) is 2-3 with a 4.53 ERA in 16 appearances with three starts. She has 13 strikeouts in 36.1 innings.
