Softball | 3/9/2023 2:29:00 PM
Emporia State Hornets (13-5, 0-0 MIAA)
vs. #6 Central Oklahoma Bronchos (14-3, 0-0 MIAA)
Friday, March 10 • 2:00 p.m. (DH) • Emporia, Kan. • Turnbull Field
Series Record: UCO leads 34-28 •
Last Meeting: UCO 7, ESU 2 (3/12/22)
vs. Newman Jets (6-12, 0-0 MIAA)
Saturday, March 11 • 1:00 p.m. • Emporia, Kan. • Turnbull Field
Series Record: ESU leads 20-4 •
Last Meeting: NU 10, ESU 9 (3/13/22)
Up Next: at Hawaii Pacific
March 14 • Kaneohe, HI • Howard A. Okita Field
MIAA PLAY BEGINS
Emporia State will begin MIAA action as they play host to #6 Central Oklahoma and Newman from Turnbull Field on March 10 and 11.
THE COACHES
April Rosales is 188-184 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.
Cody White is 363-140 in his tenth season as the head coach at Central Oklahoma.
Andrea Gustafson is 39-89 in her fourth season as the head coach at Newman.
ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State holds a 13-5 record following a 6-0 weekend at the Washburn Classic. The Hornets lead the MIAA in stolen bases as they are 49-54 on steal attempts this season.
Emma Furnish leads Emporia State with a .417 batting average and also leads the Hornets in slugging percentage, hits, runs scored and on-base percentage.
Roni Raines leads the Hornets with 14 RBI and is tied with
Alexis Dial and
Haley Garnett for the team-high in home runs with two this season. In the circle,
Gracie Rabe holds a 1.69 ERA in seven appearances across 37.1 innings pitched.
ABOUT THE BRONCHOS
Central Oklahoma is 13-4 this season following their 48-13 finish last season which ended in the NCAA Central Super Regional against Rogers State. The Bronchos are led by Emily Deramus who is batting .414 this season five home runs, 13 extra base hits and 21 RBI. Four additional Bronchos are hitting above .300 this season. In the circle, Central Oklahoma is led by Jordyn Pipkin who is 5-1 across ten appearances and 41.2 innings pitched.
ABOUT THE JETS
Newman is 6-12 this season and has played in the same three tournaments as the Hornets. The Jets are led offensively by Gianna Navarro and Gianna De Luca-Paape. De Luca-Paape leads the Jets with two home runs and is second with 12 RBI. In the circle, Madison Dewitt, Jackie Gold and Megan Walz each have eight appearances on the season.
ON DECK
Following the pair of doubleheaders against Central Oklahoma and Newman, the Hornets will travel west to the Hawaiian Islands as they will take on Hawaii Pacific and Chaminade in six games across three days.
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 188-184. 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 14 games for the Hornets. Garnett is hitting .303 this season with two home runs, one double, nine RBI and six runs scored.
Second Basemen
Roni Raines (Sr./Topeka, KS) is in her senior season with the Hornets and has started all 18 games this season and is leading Emporia State with 14 RBI on the season. In the Washburn Classic, Raines put together back-to-back games with four RBI, including against Wayne State with a grand slam in the Hornets' comeback 8-4 win.
Shortstop
Abbey Ward (Sr./Olathe, KS) has played in 127 games in her career including started all 18 for the Hornets this season. Ward is batting .213 with a .403 on-base percentage. She has ten hits with four doubles and has driven in three runs while scoring 15 of her own. Ward has also tallied 76 stolen bases in her career, including ten on 11 attempts this season, as she is two away from surpassing Caitlin VanVleck for fifth all-time in Hornet softball history.
Third Basemen
Ari Cordova (Sr./Fort Collins, CO) is in her first season with the Hornets after transferring from Butler CC. She is batting .414 across her ten games played and has 12 hits, four extra-base hits, 12 RBI and eight runs scored. Cordova is also 7-7 on stolen base attempts.
Infielder
McKensy Glass (Jr./Wichita, KS) is in her junior season for Emporia State and is hitting .289 across her 16 starts with a .426 on-base percentage. Glass has 11 hits and five RBI while scoring six runs and stealing three bases.
Utility
Sophia Rockhold (So./Oskaloosa, KS) has played in 14 games and made 11 starts for the Hornets. She holds a .206 batting average with seven hits, one double, four RBI and four runs scored.
OUT IN THE FIELD
Outfielder
Lexi Williams (Jr./Hutchinson, KS) has started all 18 games for the Hornets this season and holds a .439 OBP with 14 hits, nine walks, five RBI and 14 runs scored. Williams also leads the Hornets this season with 12 stolen bases.
Outfielder
Alexis Dial (Jr./Topeka, KS) has started all 18 games for the Hornets and holds a .333 OBP with 13 hits, two home runs, nine RBI and nine runs scored.
Outfielder
Emma Furnish (Jr./Goddard, KS) has started the season with a .417 average and 1.074 OPS through the first 18 games and has one double, two triples and one home run with seven RBI and 14 runs scored for the Hornets.
IN THE CIRCLE
Pitcher
Sydney Righi (Gr./Blue Springs, MO) has started four games in the circle and made six appearances for the Hornets this season and holds a 2-1 record across 22.0 innings pitched. She has recorded 13 strikeouts and allowed four walks.
Pitcher
Jayda VanAckeren (Jr./St. Mary's, KS) has pitched 17.2 innings this season for Emporia State across six appearances, while making three starts.
Pitcher
Gracie Rabe (So./Rossville, KS) is in her second season with the Hornets and has put together a strong start with a 1.69 ERA across 37.1 innings while making four starts and seven appearances. Rabe has recorded 23 strikeouts and allowed just nine walks.
Pitcher
Josie Harrison (Sr./St. Mary's, KS) is in her senior season with the Hornets and has pitched in five games while making four starts. Harrison holds a 2-1 record and a 3.28 ERA through 21.1 innings pitched. She is only allowing a .262 batting average against with 17 strikeouts and only nine walks allowed.
