Mid-Week Make Up game for Emporia State vs Newman at Trusler

Softball | 4/17/2023 1:18:00 PM

Emporia State Hornets (29-17, 9-9 MIAA)
vs.
Newman Jets (15-31, 3-13 MIAA)
Tuesday, April 18 • 1:00 p.m. (DH) • Emporia, Kan. • Trusler Sports Complex
Series Record: ESU leads 20-4 • Last Meeting: at NU 10, ESU 9 (3/13/22)
Radio: None Video Stream: The MIAA Network
Live Stats • Ticket Info • Complete Notes in pdf
Up Next: at #8 Rogers State
Friday, April 21 • 3:00 p.m. (DH) • Claremore, Okla. • Diamond Sports Complex

MAKE UP MIDWEEK
Emporia State plays host to Newman in a make up game from a rainout on March 11.

LAST AT BAT
Emporia State split a doubleheader at MIAA leading Missouri Southern on Saturday. The Hornets won game one 6-5 before falling 10-2 in the second game.
Emporia State snapped Missouri Southern's 12 game winning streak with a 6-5 win in the matinee. The Hornets scored five runs in the third inning to take control and held on for the 6-5 win. Ari Cordova was two for four with a double, two RBI and a run scored to pace the offense. Kelly Hipsher tossed 3.1 innings in relief for the win and Josie Harrision got the final out with the tying run in scoring position for the save.
The Lions scored seven runs in the last three innings to take a 10-2 win in the nightcap. The Hornets had just three hits and scored via a passed ball in the first and an error in the fourth.  Alexis Dial scored in the fourth it pulled ESU within 3-2 before MSSU scored three in the bottom of the inning and then scored four in the sixth to end it.

THE COACHES
April Rosales is 204-196 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 7-3 against Newman.
Andrea Gustafson is 48-108 in her fourth year at Newman. She is 1-2 against Emporia State.

ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 29-17, 9-9 in the MIAA and have won ten of their last 12 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 138 stolen bases. Abbey Ward and Lexi Williams are 1-2 in the MIAA in steals while Alexis Dial is fifth. Ari Cordova is batting .382 with 25 RBI in 27 games this season. Gracie Rabe is 11-7 with a 2.80 ERA and 56 strikeouts. Six Hornets have thrown at least 10.0 innings this season.

ABOUT THE JETS
Newman is 15-31, 3-13 in the MIAA. They have lost four straight after winning four straight. Gianna Navarro is batting a team best .377 while Gianna DeLuca-Paape has a team best four home runs and 26 RBI.Jackie Gold is 7-8 with a 5.13 ERA and ten complete games in the circle.

SERIES HISTORY
The Hornets lead the series 20-4 and have won three of four in MIAA play.

LAST MEETING
Emporia State and Newman split their double header last year in Wichita. The Hornets won game one 8-7 before falling 10-9 in the nightcap.

ON DECK
The Hornets hit the road for their final six games starting with a double header at efending national champion Rogers State. First pitch on Friday in Claremore, Okla. 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 204-196 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 138 stolen bases this season and are ranked fourth in the nation.  The Hornets have stolen 55 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 middle innings this year, outscoring their opponents 195-142 in the second through sixth innings.  They are especially effective in the even numbered innings with a 51-19 advantage in the second, 44-36 in the fourth and 27-18 in the sixth inning.

AROUND THE DIAMOND
First Basemen Haley Garnett (Jr./Olathe, KS) has played in 41 games with 37 starts for the Hornets. She is hitting .270 with three home runs, four doubles, 27 RBI and 20 runs scored.
Second Baseman McKensy Glass (Jr./Wichita, KS) is hitting .300 with a .410 on-base percentage while starting 44 games. Glass has 13 RBI while scoring 21 runs and stealing six bases.
Shortstop Abbey Ward (Sr./Olathe, KS) has played in 155 games in her career including starts in all 46 games this season. She is batting .289 with a .420 on-base percentage. She has nine doubles, a triple and a home run. She has driven in 12 runs while scoring a team high 36 runs. She is fifth in career stolen bases for the Hornets with 96 in her career, including 30 on 31 attempts this season to lead the MIAA.  
Third Basemen Roni Raines (Sr./Topeka, KS) has started all 46 games this season. She is leading Emporia State with 28 RBI on the season. She is hitting .280 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 .382 in 27 games played with eight doubles, two triples, a home run, 25 RBI and 17 runs scored while going 18 of 21 on stolen base attempts. She is hitting .647 with a 1.726 OPS over her last five games. 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 46 games this season with a .271 batting average, 15 RBI and 28 runs scored. She is second in the MIAA with 26 stolen bases.
Outfielder Alexis Dial (Jr./Topeka, KS) has started all 46 games and is batting .269 with an MIAA high four triples, three homers, 22 RBI and 32 runs. She is 21 of 21 on stolen base attempts.
Outfielder Emma Furnish (Jr./Goddard, KS) is batting .301 through 46 games. She has two doubles, a league high four triples, one home run, 23 RBI and 25 runs scored for the Hornets.

BEHIND THE PLATE
Catcher Bailey Flewelling (Jr./Holton, KS) has 28 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 35 games and made 31 starts for the Hornets. She holds a .308 batting average with four doubles, 16 RBI and 12 runs scored.

IN THE CIRCLE
Pitcher Gracie Rabe (So./Rossville, KS) is 11-7 with a 2.80 ERA across 97.1 innings while making 15 starts in 20 appearances. She has 56 strikeouts while allowing 23 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 11 games in the circle and made 20 appearances this season. She has a 4-2 record with two saves across 66.2 innings pitched with a 3.68 ERA, 32 strikeouts and 21 walks. She is second in the MIAA and 45th in the nation in saves.
Pitcher Josie Harrison (Sr./St. Mary's, KS) has pitched in 15 games while making nine starts. She is 5-4 with a 3.95 ERA through 51.1 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 47.2 innings this season for Emporia State across 17 appearances, while making eight starts.
Pitcher Kelly Hipsher (Jr./Olathe, Kan.) is 3-1 with a 2.68 ERA in nine appearances out of the bullpen this year. She was 2-0 in 7.2 innings of relief last week in three games with six strikeouts and just one walk.