Softball | 2/24/2023 6:05:00 PM
Emporia State Hornets (7-5, 0-0 MIAA)
vs. Sioux Falls Cougars (0-4, 0-0 NSIC)
Saturday, Feb. 25 • 12:15 p.m. • Emporia, Kan.
Series Record: Series Tied 4-4 •
Last Meeting: ESU 4, USF 1 (2/18/23)
vs. SW Minnesota State Mustangs (0-0, 0-0 GAC)
Saturday, Feb. 25 • 4:00 p.m. • Emporia, Kan.
Series Record: ESU leads 4-2 •
Last Meeting: ESU 8, SMSU 0 (2/27/22)
vs. Wayne State Wildcats (0-4, 0-0 NSIC)
Sunday, Feb. 26 • 1:30 p.m. • Topeka, Kan.
Series Record: ESU leads 10-0 •
Last Meeting: ESU 13, WSC 2 (2/26/22)
vs. Missouri-St. Louis Tritons (3-3, 0-0 GLVC)
Sunday, Feb. 26 • 3:30 p.m. • Topeka, Kan.
Series Record: ESU leads 12-10 •
Last Meeting: UMSL 5, ESU 0 (2/20/23)
vs. St. Cloud State Huskies (2-2, 0-0 GLVC)
Monday, Feb. 27 • 12:00 p.m. (DH) • Emporia, Kan. • Turnbull Field
Series Record: ESU leads 9-4 •
Last Meeting: SCSU 8, ESU 1 (2/27/22)
Up Next: William Jewell
March 7 • Emporia, Kan. • Turnbull Field
TURNPIKE TRAVELS
Emporia State will travel to Topeka for a four-game set in the Washburn Classic before returning home for a doubleheader on Monday afternoon.
THE COACHES
April Rosales is 182-184 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 85-91 in her sixth season at Sioux Falls.
Bailey Bouman is 76-84 in her fifth season at Southwest Minnesota.
Christy Warnock is in her first season at Wayne State.
Amanda Scott is 174-118 in her seventh season at Missouri-St. Louis.
Mitch Roberts is 38-20 in his second season at St. Cloud State.
ABOUT THE HORNETS
The Hornets hold a 7-5 record and have two players,
Emma Furnish and
McKensy Glass, hitting above .300 this season. Furnish leads the way with a .357 average and .971 OPS. In the circle, four Hornets have double-digit innings pitched with Grace Rabe leading the way with 23.1 across five appearances. The Hornets have 49 strikeouts and allowed just 27 walks as a staff.
ABOUT THE COUGARS
Sioux Falls went 27-25 last season and finished ninth in the Northern Sun. The Hornets defeated the Cougars 4-1 in the first game of the ESU Classic.
ABOUT THE MUSTANGS
The Mustangs are opening their season at the Washburn Classic following a 21-31 season in 2022.
ABOUT THE WILDCATS
Wayne State enters the weekend 0-4 following a 15-38 record last season.
ABOUT THE TRITONS
Missouri-St. Louis went 28-22 last season and is 3-3 following their six games at the ESU Classic. The Hornets fell 5-0 against the Tritons in the final game last weekend.
ABOUT THE HUSKIES
St. Cloud State is 2-2 this season after a 36-18 finish last season as the Huskies finished fourth in the NSIC.
ON DECK
Following the doubleheader against St. Cloud State, Emporia State will remain home for a doubleheader against William Jewell on March 7 before opening MIAA play.
IN 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 182-184. 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 eight games for the Hornets. Across 15 plate appearances this season, Garnett has recorded four hits and also drawn three walks or an on-base percentage of .389.
Second Basemen
Roni Raines (Sr./Topeka, KS) is in her senior season with the Hornets and has started all 12 games this season. Raines has three doubles, two runs scored and four RBI through the first two weekends of the season.
Shortstop
Abbey Ward (Sr./Olathe, KS) has played in 121 games in her career including started all 12 for the Hornets this season. Ward is batting .219 with a .359 on-base percentage. She has seven hits with two doubles and has driven in two runs while scoring ten of her own. Ward has also tallied 73 stolen bases in her career, including seven on seven 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.
Infielder
McKensy Glass (Jr./Wichita, KS) is in her junior season for Emporia State and is hitting .304 across her ten starts with a team-high .429 on-base percentage. Glass has seven hits, one double, three RBI and three runs scored for the Hornets this season.
Utility
Sophia Rockhold (So./Oskaloosa, KS) has played in ten games and made seven starts for the Hornets. She holds a .250 batting average with five hits and three runs scored.
OUT IN THE FIELD
Outfielder
Lexi Williams (Jr./Hutchinson, KS) has started all 12 games for the Hornets this season and holds a .342 OBP with seven hits, five walks, five RBI and seven runs scored. Williams also is tied for second on the Hornets with six stolen bases.
Outfielder
Alexis Dial (Jr./Topeka, KS) has started all 12 games for the Hornets and holds a .333 OBP with seven hits, two home runs, six RBI and seven runs scored.
Outfielder
Emma Furnish (Jr./Goddard, KS) has started the season with a .357 and .971 OPS through the first 12 games and has one double, one triple and one home run with three RBI and seven runs scored for the Hornets.
IN THE CIRCLE
Pitcher
Sydney Righi (Gr./Blue Springs, MO) has started three games in the circle for the Hornets this season and holds a 2-1 record across 14.2 innings pitched. She has recorded ten strikeouts and allowed three walks.
Pitcher
Jayda VanAckeren (Jr./St. Mary's, KS) has pitched 10.0 innings this season for Emporia State across four appearances, while making two starts.
Pitcher
Gracie Rabe (So./Rossville, KS) is in her second season with the Hornets and has put together a strong start with a 2.10 ERA across 23.1 innings while making two starts and five appearances. Rabe has recorded 14 strikeouts and allowed just seven walks
Pitcher
Josie Harrison (Sr./St. Mary's, KS) is in her senior season with the Hornets and has pitched in four games while making three starts. Harrison holds a 2-1 record and a 2.47 ERA through 17.0 innings pitched. She is only allowing a .219 batting average against with 14 strikeouts and only eight walks allowed.
