Trip to the Four State Region for Emporia State Softball

Softball | 4/13/2023 4:33:00 PM

Emporia State Hornets (27-15, 7-7 MIAA)
at Pittsburg State Gorillas (22-14, 7-7 MIAA)
Friday, April 14 • 3:00 p.m. (DH) • Pittsburg, Kan. • PSU Softball Field
Series Record: ESU leads 81-57 • Last Meeting: at ESU 13, PSU 7 (4/15/22)
at Missouri Southern Lions (28-7, 13-1 MIAA)
Saturday, April 15 • 1:00 p.m. (DH) • Joplin, Mo. • Pat Lipira Softball Complex
Series Record: MSSU leads 44-43 • Last Meeting: at ESU 7, MSSU 2 (4/16/22)
Video Stream: The MIAA Network
Live Stats • Complete Notes in pdf
Up Next: vs. Newman
Tuesday, April 18 • 1:00 p.m. (DH) • Emporia, Kan. • Trusler Sports Complex

FOUR GAMES IN THE FOUR STATES
Emporia State travels to Pittsburg State and Missouri Southern this weekend riding an eight game winning streak.

LAST AT BAT
Emporia State set the school team record for stolen bases in a season during a double header sweep of Rockhurst.
The Hornets scored three runs in the fifth for a 4-2 come from behind victory in the matinee. Ari Cordova and Haley Garnett each went two for three with Cordova recording an RBI and Garnett a run scored.  Roni Raines was one for three with a run and an RBI. Emporia State got ahead early and cruised to a 6-1 victory in the nightcap. Sophia Rockhold went two for three with a triple and an RBI while Abbey Ward and Garnett both scored two runs. Josie Harrison started and scattered six hits over 5.1 innings allowing one run for the win.

THE COACHES
April Rosales is 202-194 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 8-8 against Pitt State and 9-6 against Missouri Southern.
Jenny Fuller is 47-40 in her second year at Pittsburg State and 191-156 in eight years as a head coach. She is 1-1 against Emporia State.
Hallie Blackney  is 114-81-1 in her fifth year at Missouri Southern. She is 3-5 against Emporia State.

ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 27-15, 7-7 in the MIAA and have won eight straight games. They have gone 20-8 in non-conference action. The Hornets lead the MIAA and are ranked fourth in the nation with a school record 127 stolen bases. Abbey Ward and Lexi Williams are 1-2 in the MIAA in steals. On the year Roni Raines has a team best 27 RBI. Gracie Rabe is 11-5 with a 2.17 ERA and 52 strikeouts.

ABOUT THE GORILLAS
Pittsburg State is 22-14, 7-7 in the MIAA. They have lost five of their last six. Paxtyn Hayes leads the MIAA with 44 RBI.
SERIES HISTORY
The Hornets lead the series 81-57.
LAST MEETING
Emporia State softball was held to one run in the opener before exploding for 13 runs in the nightcap of their with Pittsburg State.  The Hornets fell 10-1 in six innings in game one and won 13-7 in game two.

ABOUT THE LIONS
Missouri Southern is 28-7, 13-1 in the MIAA entering the weekend. They have won ten straight games.
SERIES HISTORY
The Lions lead the series 44-43.
LAST MEETING
Emporia State traded 7-2 scores with Missouri Southern at the Trusler Sports Complex.

ON DECK
The Hornets play host to Newman in their final home game on Tuesday, April 18. First pitch from Trusler is set for 1:00 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 202-194 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 a school record 127 stolen bases this season and are ranked fourth in the nation.  The Hornets have stolen 51 more bases than any other conference team has attempted.  Five Hornets have at least ten stolen bases on the year.

EVEN BETTER
The Hornets have dominated the even numbered innings this year, outscoring their opponents in the second, fourth, sixth and eighth innings 119-55. They have been outscored in the first, third and seventh innings by just 11 runs, 69-58. The outlier to the odd/even split is the fifth where ESU has outscored ther opponents 33-32.

AROUND THE DIAMOND
First Basemen Haley Garnett (Jr./Olathe, KS) has played in 37 games with 34 starts for the Hornets. She is hitting .295 with three home runs, four doubles, 25 RBI and 18 runs scored.
Second Baseman McKensy Glass (Jr./Wichita, KS) is hitting .289 with a .405 on-base percentage while starting 40 games. Glass has 12 RBI while scoring 19 runs and stealing six bases.
Shortstop Abbey Ward (Sr./Olathe, KS) has played in 151 games in her career including starts in all 42 games this season. She is batting .296 with a .434 on-base percentage. She has nine doubles, a triple and a home run. She has driven in 10 runs while scoring a team high 33 runs. She is fifth in career stolen bases for the Hornets with 95 in her career, including 29 on 30 attempts this season to lead the MIAA.  
Third Basemen Roni Raines (Sr./Topeka, KS) has started all 42 games this season. She is leading Emporia State with 27 RBI on the season. She is hitting .281 with a .362 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 .323 in 23 games played with five doubles, a triple, a home run, 19 RBI and 15 runs scored. Cordova is 16 of 18 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 42 games this season with a .273 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 42 games and is batting .271 with a league high four triples, three home runs, 19 RBI and 29 runs scored. She is 17 of 17 on stolen base attempts.
Outfielder Emma Furnish (Jr./Goddard, KS) is batting .304 through 42 games. She has two doubles, a league high four triples, one home run, 22 RBI and 24 runs scored for the Hornets.

BEHIND THE PLATE
Catcher Bailey Flewelling (Jr./Holton, KS) has 27 starts at catcher this year.  She is batting .194 in 31 at bats. She has thrown out three base stealers this year.
Catcher Sophia Rockhold (So./Oskaloosa, KS) has played in 32 games and made 28 starts for the Hornets. She holds a .305 batting average with four doubles, 13 RBI and ten runs scored.

IN THE CIRCLE
Pitcher Gracie Rabe (So./Rossville, KS) is 11-5 with a 2.17 ERA across 90.1 innings while making 13 starts in 18 appearances. She has 52 strikeouts while allowing 20 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 18 appearances this season. She has a 4-2 record with two saves across 60.0 innings pitched with a 3.03 ERA, 31 strikeouts and 19 walks. She is second in the MIAA and 38th in the nation in saves.
Pitcher Josie Harrison (Sr./St. Mary's, KS) has pitched in 13 games while making nine starts. She is 5-4 with a 3.32 ERA through 50.2 innings pitched. She has 43 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 46.0 innings this season for Emporia State across 15 appearances, while making eight starts.