Softball | 2/16/2023 2:17:00 PM
Emporia State Hornets (5-1, 0-0 MIAA)
vs. Sioux Falls Cougars (0-0, 0-0 NSIC)
Saturday, Feb. 18 • 2:30 p.m. • Emporia, Kan.
Series Record: USF leads 4-3 •
Last Meeting: USF 8, ESU 7 (2/28/22)
vs. Winona State Warriors (2-0, 0-0 NSIC)
Saturday, Feb. 18 • 4:45 p.m. • Emporia, Kan.
Series Record: ESU leads 10-5 •
Last Meeting: ESU 3, WSU 1 (5/10/18)
vs. Minnesota State Mavericks (3-1, 0-0 NSIC)
Sunday, Feb. 19 • 12:15 p.m. • Emporia, Kan.
Series Record: ESU leads 14-10 •
Last Meeting: ESU 4, MSU 3 (2/23/20)
vs. Oklahoma Baptist Bison (8-1, 0-0 GAC)
Sunday, Feb. 19 • 4:00 p.m. • Emporia, Kan.
Series Record: OBU leads 1-0 •
Last Meeting: OBU 7, ESU 6 (2/5/22)
vs. Concordia-St. Paul Bears (1-3, 0-0 NSIC)
Monday, Feb. 20 • 12:15 p.m. • Emporia, Kan.
Series Record: ESU leads 12-7 •
Last Meeting: ESU 3, CSP 1 (3/5/21)
vs. Missouri-St. Louis Tritons (0-0, 0-0 GLVC)
Monday, Feb. 20 • 12:15 p.m. • Emporia, Kan.
Series Record: ESU leads 12-9 •
Last Meeting: UMSL 10, ESU 5 (2/26/22)
Video: The MIAA Network
Live Stats: esuhornets.com
Up Next: Washburn Classic
Feb. 24-26 • Topeka, Kan.
HOME COOKING
Emporia State plays host to six teams in the ESU Classic from Trusler Sports Complex.
THE COACHES
April Rosales is 180-180 entering her eighth season at Emporia State. She has taken the Hornets to two MIAA Championship games with a win in the 2018 MIAA Championship.
Shannon Pivovar is 85-87 in her sixth season at Sioux Falls.
Greg Jones is 891-300 in his 23rd season at Winona State.
Lori Meyer is 1,338-715-3 in her sixth season at Minnesota State.
Sam Maples is 93-93 in her fifth season at Oklahoma Baptist.
Bob Bartel is 500-417-1 in his 19th season at Concordia-St. Paul.
Amanda Scott is 171-115 in her seventh season at Missouri-St. Louis.
ABOUT THE HORNETS
The Hornets went 5-1 on opening weekend and were led by
Ari Cordova and
Emma Furnish who both totaled averages of .500 or better. Cordova was also named MIAA Softball Hitter of the Week. The Hornets also had four pitchers claim a win in the circle with
Gracie Rabe going 2-0.
ABOUT THE COUGARS
Sioux Falls went 27-25 last season and finished ninth in the Northern Sun.
ABOUT THE WARRIORS
Winona State has started the season 2-0 following a 41-17 season last season as they finished third in the Northern Sun.
ABOUT THE MAVERICKS
Minnesota State is 3-1 this season following a 48-14 finish last season.
ABOUT THE BISON
Oklahoma Baptist have started the season 8-1 and have outscored opponents 49-13.
ABOUT THE BEARS
Concordia-St. Paul is 1-3 this season and finish sixth in the NSIC last season with a record of 35-14-1.
ABOUT THE TRITONS
Missouri-St. Louis went 28-22 last season incluidng three games against the Hornets.
ON DECK
The Hornets will travel to Topeka, Kan. for the Washburn Classic which is scheduled for Feb. 24-26.
N THE DUGOUT
April Rosales is in her eighth season leading the Emporia State softball program. Through the opening weekend of the 2023 season, her record as head coach is 180-180. 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 Basemen
Haley Garnett (Jr./Olathe, KS) is in her first season with Emporia State and has played in three games for the Hornets. Across seven plate appearances this season, Garnett has recorded four hits and also drawn a walk for an on-base percentage of .714.
Second Basemen
Roni Raines (Sr./Topeka, KS) is in her senior season with the Hornets and has started all six games this season. Raines has one double, one run scored and three RBI through the opening weekend of the season.
Shortstop
Abbey Ward (Sr./Olathe, KS) has played in 115 games in her career including started all six for the Hornets this season. Ward is batting .316 with a .409 on-base percentage. She has six hits with one double and has driven in two runs while scoring seven of her own. Ward has also tallied 71 stolen bases in her career, including five on five attempts this season.
Third Basemen
Ari Cordova (Sr./Fort Collins, CO) is in her first season with the Hornets after transferring from Butler CC. Cordova went 10-20 over the opening weekend with one home run, two doubles, a triple and a team-high 10 RBI. She was named MIAA Softball Hitter of the Week for her opening weekend performance.
Designated Player
McKensy Glass (Jr./Wichita, KS) is in her junior season for Emporia State. Glass has started four games this season and is 3-10 from the plate with a pair of walks with an on-base percentage of .462. She also has two RBI and three runs scored for the Hornets.
OUT IN THE FIELD
Outfielder
Lexi Williams (Jr./Hutchinson, KS) has started all six games for the Hornets this season and is 5-18 from the plate with a triple, three RBI and three walks drawn through the opening weekend. Williams is also 4-4 on stolen bases this season, which ranks third on the team.
Outfielder
Alexis Dial (Jr./Topeka, KS) is batting .438 through opening weekend which ranks third on the Hornets. Dial is 7-16 from the plate with two home runs and six RBI. She has also drawn a pair of walks and stolen three bases on three attempts.
Outfielder
Emma Furnish (Jr./Goddard, KS) has started the season with a .538 average through opening weekend, which leads the Hornets. Furnish also holds a .615 on-base percentage while stealing two bases.
IN THE CIRCLE
Pitcher
Sydney Righi (Gr./Blue Springs, MO) has started two games in the circle for the Hornets this season and holds a 1-1 record across 7.2 innings pitched. She has recorded five strikeouts and allowed three walks.
Pitcher
Jayda VanAckeren (Jr./St. Mary's, KS) has pitched 7.1 innings this season for Emporia State across two appearances, while making one start. VanAckeren holds a 1.91 ERA and is 1-0 on the season.
Pitcher
Gracie Rabe (So./Rossville, KS) is in her second season with the Hornets and put together a strong start in the circle through opening weekend. Rabe is 2-0 with a 0.88 ERA and has allowed just six hits across 8.0 innings pitched. She is also allowing just a 2.07 batting average against through the first weekend.
Pitcher
Josie Harrison (Sr./St. Mary's, KS) is in her senior season with the Hornets and has pitched in two games through opening weekend. Harrison holds a 1-0 record and a 0.78 ERA through 9.0 innings pitched. She has allowed just one run on four hits and is only allowing opponents to hit .133 so far this season.
