Road Trip to Midland Empire next for Emporia State

Softball | 3/29/2023 11:37:00 AM

Emporia State Hornets (18-12, 2-4 MIAA)
at Northwest Missouri Bearcats (16-12, 3-5 MIAA)
Friday, March 31 • 12:00 p.m. (DH) • Maryville, Mo. • Bearcat Softball Field
Series Record: ESU leads 56-22 • Last Meeting: at ESU 8, NWMSU 0 (4/1/2022)
Radio: None Video Stream: The MIAA Network
at Missouri Western Griffons (17-8, 4-4 MIAA)
Sat., April 1 • 12:00 p.m. (DH) • St. Joseph, Mo. • Griffon Spring Sports Complex
Series Record: ESU leads 62-37 • Last Meeting: MWSU 9, at ESU 7 (4/2/2022)
Radio: None Video Stream: The MIAA Network
Live Stats • Complete Notes in pdf
Up Next: vs. Neb.-Kearney
Friday, April 7 • 3:00 p.m. (DH) • Emporia, Kan. • Trusler Sports Complex

ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Emporia State travels to the Midland Empire to take on Northwest Missouri and Missouri Western this weekend.

LAST AT BAT
Emporia State softball tallied 21 hits across two games as they swept Lincoln on Saturday with an 8-0 win in game one and a 9-1 win the game two of the doubleheader. Eight different Hornets recorded a hit with Alexis Dial driving in three runs while Haley Garnett added two RBI in game one. Josie Harrison pitched 5.0 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit. Harrison led the way at the plate in game two, going three for three she with an RBI and a run scored. Dial, Roni Raines and Abbey Ward each recorded two hits. Jayda VanAckeren pitched 5.0 innings and allowed one run on five hits.

THE COACHES
April Rosales is 193-191 in her eighth season at Emporia State. She has taken the Hornets to two MIAA Championship game, the 2018 NCAA Central Sub-Regional championship game and won the 2018 MIAA Tournament Championship. She is 11-3 against Northwest Missouri and 6-9 against the Griffons.
Naomi Tellez is 32-49 in her second year at Northwest Missouri. She is 0-2 against ESU.
Joe Yegge is 47-30 in his second season at Missouri Western. He is 2-0 against ESU.

ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 18-12 overall and 2-4 in the MIAA. The Hornets lead the MIAA and are ranked eighth in the nation in stolen bases. Lexi Williams, Abbey Ward, Ari Cordova, and Alexis Dial all rank in the top ten of the MIAA in steals. Emma Furnish is batting .341 and Roni Raines has a team best 22 RBI. Gracie Rabe is 6-4 with a 1.95 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 61.0 innings. Six Hornets have pitched at least 7.0 innings.

ABOUT THE BEARCATS
Northwest Missouri is 16-12, 3-5 in the MIAA. Olivia Daugherty is second in the MIAA in home runs and RBI.
SERIES HISTORY
The Hornets lead the all-time series 56-22.
LAST MEETING
The Hornets swept Northwest Missouri, ending both games by run rule 8-0 in the fifth inning.

ABOUT THE GRIFFONS
Missouri Western is 17-8, 4-4 in the MIAA. Sydni Hawkins leads the MIAA in batting, runs scored, and doubles.
SERIES HISTORY
The Hornets lead the all-time series 62-37.
LAST MEETING
Emporia State had the tying run at the plate in their final at bat in both games in a pair of losses to Mo. Western, falling 2-1 and 9-7.

ON DECK
The Hornets return to Trusler for a six game home stand starting on April 7 against Neb.-Kearney. First pitch is at 3:00 p.m.

IN THE DUGOUT
April Rosales is in her eighth season leading the Emporia State softball program. She is 193-191 with an MIAA Tournament Championship, two MIAA Tournament title game appearances, and an appearance in the NCAA Central Sub-Regional Championship Game.
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.

RUNNING HORNETS
Emporia State leads the MIAA with 91 stolen bases and are ranked ninth in the nation.  The Hornets have stolen 28 more bases than any other conference team has attempted.  Four Hornets have at least ten stolen bases on the year.

AROUND THE DIAMOND
First Basemen Haley Garnett (Jr./Olathe, KS) is in her first season with Emporia State after transferring from Butler CC. She has played in 26 games with 24 starts for the Hornets. Garnett is hitting .254 this season with two home runs, two doubles, 16 RBI and 11 runs scored.
Second Baseman McKensy Glass (Jr./Wichita, KS) is hitting .258 with a .380 on-base percentage while starting 27 of 28 games played. Glass has nine RBI while scoring 12 runs and stealing four bases.
Shortstop Abbey Ward (Sr./Olathe, KS) has played in 139 games in her career including starts in all 30 games for the Hornets this season. Ward is batting .286 with a .423 on-base percentage. She has eight doubles and has driven in six runs while scoring a team high 23 of her own. She is fifth in career stolen bases for the Hornets with 94 in her career, including 20 on 21 attempts this season to tie for the MIAA lead.  
Third Basemen Roni Raines (Sr./Topeka, KS) is in her senior season with the Hornets and has started all 30 games this season and is leading Emporia State with 22 RBI on the season. She is hitting .264 with a .323 on base percentage. In the Washburn Classic, Raines put together back-to-back games with four RBI, including a grand slam in the Hornets' 8-4 comeback win against Wayne State.
Designated player Ari Cordova (Sr./Fort Collins, CO) is in her first season with the Hornets after transferring from Butler CC. She is batting .348 across her 17 games played with three doubles, a triple, a home run, 14 RBI and 13 runs scored. Cordova is also 13 of 13 on stolen base attempts. She has missed the last five games with an injury.

OUT IN THE FIELD
Outfielder Lexi Williams (Jr./Hutchinson, KS) has started all 30 games for the Hornets this season with a .293 batting average, nine RBI and 21 runs scored. She is tied for the MIAA lead with 20 stolen bases in 23 attempts.
Outfielder Alexis Dial (Jr./Topeka, KS) has started all 30 games for the Hornets and is batting .277 with three home runs, 17 RBI and 19 runs scored. She is 13 of 13 on stolen base attempts.
Outfielder Emma Furnish (Jr./Goddard, KS) is batting .341 with a .905 OPS through 30 games. She has two doubles, a league high four triples, one home run, 16 RBI and 19 runs scored for the Hornets.

BEHIND THE PLATE
Catcher Bailey Flewelling (Jr./Holton, KS) has 21 starts at catcher this year.  She is batting .179 in 28 at bats. She has thrown out three base stealers this year.
Utility Sophia Rockhold (So./Oskaloosa, KS) has played in 21 games and made 18 starts for the Hornets. She holds a .288 batting average with two doubles, eight RBI and six runs scored.

IN THE CIRCLE
Pitcher Gracie Rabe (So./Rossville, KS) is in her second season with the Hornets and has a 1.95 ERA across 61.0 innings while making eight starts in 12 appearances. Rabe is 6-4 and has recorded 29 strikeouts while allowing 14 walks.
Pitcher Sydney Righi (Gr./Blue Springs, MO) has started seven games in the circle and made 12 appearances for the Hornets this season. She has a 2-2 record with two saves across 40.0 innings pitched with a 3.33 ERA. She has recorded 21 strikeouts and allowed ten walks.
Pitcher Josie Harrison (Sr./St. Mary's, KS) has pitched in nine games while making seven starts. She is 3-3 record with a 3.91 ERA through 34.0 innings pitched. She has 26 strikeouts on the season. She tossed a one hit shutout in her last outing against Lincoln.
Pitcher Jayda VanAckeren (Jr./St. Mary's, KS) is 5-1 on the season. She has pitched 38.2 innings this season for Emporia State across 12 appearances, while making five starts.