Homestand wraps up on Wednesday for Emporia State Softball

Softball | 4/11/2023 8:31:00 AM

Emporia State Hornets (25-15, 7-7 MIAA)
vs.
 Rockhurst Hawks (14-15, 9-3 GLVC)
Wednesday, April 12 • 3:00 p.m. (DH) • Emporia, Kan. • Trusler Sports ComplexSeries Record: ESU leads 7-4 • Last Meeting: RU 8, at ESU 7 (8) (4/12/22)
Radio: None Video Stream: The MIAA Network
Live Stats • Ticket Info • Complete Notes in pdf
Up Next: at Pittsburg State
Friday, April 14 • 3:00 p.m. (DH) • Pittsburg, Kan. • PSU Softball Field

WRAP UP WEDNESDAY
Emporia State wraps up an eight game home stand against Rockhurst. ESU will play ten of their final 12 games on the road.

LAST AT BAT
Emporia State took both ends of a double header against Fort Hays State to run their winning streak to six games and give head coach April Rosales her 200th career win.
Sydney Righi was perfect through the first four innings and Haley Garnett hit a three run homer to propel Emporia State to a 4-3 win over Fort Hays State in the matinee. Four Hornets had one hit each with Garnett's three run home run being the difference.  Righi went the distance in the circle, scattering six hits with just one walk and two strikeouts while allowing three runs, two of them earned.
Emporia State took a 6-0 win in the nightcap for their sixth straight win. McKensy Glass went three for three with two runs scored while Ari Cordova had two RBI for Emporia State. Gracie Rabe tossed 6.0 shutout innings.

THE COACHES
April Rosales is 200-194 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 2-4 against Rockhurst.
Tyler Gunelson is 14-15 in his first year at Rockhurst after going 107-100 in five years at Barton CC. This is his first meeting with Emporia State.

ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 25-15, 7-7 in the MIAA and have won six straight games. They have gone 18-8 in non-conference action. The Hornets lead the MIAA and are ranked fourth in the nation in total stolen bases. Abbey Ward and Lexi Williams are 1-2 in the MIAA in steals. Four Hornets are batting over .300 while three players have at least a .400 on base percentage. On the year Roni Raines has a team best 26 RBI. Gracie Rabe is 10-5 with a 2.24 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 87.2 innings. Six Hornets have pitched at least 8.0 innings.

ABOUT THE HAWKS
Rockhurst is 14-15 overall and 9-3 in the GLVC. They are 3-8 against the MIAA this season. Maya Gallagher leads Rockhurst with a .333 average, seven home runs, 19 RBI and 23 runs scored. Avery Huffman is 4-3 with a 3.78 ERA and 50 strikeouts in the circle.

SERIES HISTORY
The Hornets lead the series 7-4, however the Hawks have won the last four meetings.

LAST MEETING
Emporia State suffered a pair of late inning losses to Rockhurst in non-conference action at the Trusler Sports Complex.  The Hawks won game on 3-1 and took the second game 8-7 in eight innings.

ON DECK
The Hornets travel to Pittsburg State on Friday for a double header against the Gorillas. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m.

IN THE DUGOUT
April Rosales is in her eighth season leading the Emporia State softball program and has the third most wins in school history. She is 200-194 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 124 stolen bases and are ranked fourth in the nation.  The Hornets have stolen 48 more bases than any other conference team has attempted.  Five Hornets have at least ten stolen bases on the year.

ODD OR EVEN
The Hornets have dominated the even numbered innings this year, outscoring their opponents in the second, fourth, sixth and eighth innings 118-54. They have been outscored in the first, third and seventh innings 79-52 with Emporia State and thier opponents both scoring 30 runs in the fifth this year.

AROUND THE DIAMOND
First Basemen Haley Garnett (Jr./Olathe, KS) has played in 35 games with 32 starts for the Hornets. She is hitting .277 with three home runs, four doubles, 24 RBI and 15 runs scored.
Second Baseman McKensy Glass (Jr./Wichita, KS) is hitting .306 with a .419 on-base percentage while starting 38 games. Glass has 12 RBI while scoring 18 runs and stealing six bases.
Shortstop Abbey Ward (Sr./Olathe, KS) has played in 149 games in her career including starts in all 40 games this season. She is batting .303 with a .441 on-base percentage. She has eight doubles, a triple and a home run. She has driven in 10 runs while scoring a team high 30 runs. She is fifth in career stolen bases for the Hornets with 93 in her career, including 27 on 28 attempts this season to lead the MIAA.  
Third Basemen Roni Raines (Sr./Topeka, KS) has started all 40 games this season. She is leading Emporia State with 26 RBI on the season. She is hitting .284 with a .364 on base percentage.
Designated player Ari Cordova (Sr./Fort Collins, CO) is in her first season at ESU after transferring from Butler CC. She is batting .305 in 22 games played with three doubles, a triple, a home run, 18 RBI and 15 runs scored. Cordova is 16 of 17 on stolen base attempts. She missed the ten games with an injury earlier this year after being named MIAA Hitter of the Week in February.

OUT IN THE FIELD
Outfielder Lexi Williams (Jr./Hutchinson, KS) has started all 40 games this season with a .283 batting average, 14 RBI and 24 runs scored. She is second in the MIAA with 24 stolen bases.
Outfielder Alexis Dial (Jr./Topeka, KS) has started all 40 games and is batting .275 with three home runs, 19 RBI and 25 runs scored. She is 17 of 17 on stolen base attempts.
Outfielder Emma Furnish (Jr./Goddard, KS) is batting .308 through 40 games. She has two doubles, a league high four triples, one home run, 21 RBI and 23 runs scored for the Hornets.

BEHIND THE PLATE
Catcher Bailey Flewelling (Jr./Holton, KS) has 26 starts at catcher this year.  She is batting .167 in 30 at bats. She has thrown out three base stealers this year.
Utility Sophia Rockhold (So./Oskaloosa, KS) has played in 30 games and made 27 starts for the Hornets. She holds a .291 batting average with four doubles, 12 RBI and ten runs scored.

IN THE CIRCLE
Pitcher Gracie Rabe (So./Rossville, KS) is 10-5 with a 2.24 ERA across 87.2 innings while making 13 starts in 17 appearances. She has 50 strikeouts while allowing 19 walks. She had a no hitter up until the last batter against William Jewell, who reached on a blooper and was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double.
Pitcher Sydney Righi (Gr./Blue Springs, MO) has started nine games in the circle and made 17 appearances this season. She has a 4-2 record with two saves across 58.1 innings pitched with a 3.12 ERA, 30 strikeouts and 19 walks. She is second in the MIAA and 34th in the nation in saves.
Pitcher Josie Harrison (Sr./St. Mary's, KS) has pitched in 12 games while making eight starts. She is 4-4 with a 3.55 ERA through 45.1 innings pitched. She has 41 strikeouts on the season. She tossed one hit shutouts against Chadron State and Lincoln.
Pitcher Jayda VanAckeren (Jr./St. Mary's, KS) is 5-2 on the season. She has pitched 41.2 innings this season for Emporia State across 14 appearances, while making seven starts.