Final Regular Season Road Trip for Emporia State Softball

Softball | 4/20/2023 8:31:00 AM

Emporia State Hornets (31-17, 11-9 MIAA)
at #8 Rogers State Hillcats (35-8, 12-6 MIAA)
Friday, April 21 • 3:00 p.m. (DH) • Claremore, Okla. • Diamond Sports Complex
Series Record: RSU leads 5-3 • Last Meeting: at ESU 6, RSU 2 (4/24/22)
Radio: None Video Stream: The MIAA Network
at Northeastern State RiverHawks (25-18, 7-11 MIAA)
Saturday, April 22 • 1:00 p.m. (DH) • Tahlequah, Okla. • RiverHawks Park
Series Record: ESU leads 33-25 • Last Meeting: ESU 2, NSU 0 (5/6/22-MIAA Tourney)
Radio: None Video Stream: The MIAA Network
Live Stats • Complete Notes in pdf
Up Next: at Washburn
Saturday, April 29 • 1:00 p.m. (DH) • Topeka, Kan. • Gahnstrom Field

WRAPPING UP ON THE ROAD
Emporia State begins a six game road trip at defending national champion Rogers State.

LAST AT BAT
Emporia State ran their home field winning streak to 12 games with a double header sweep of Newman on Tuesday.  
Emporia State took advantage of four Newman errors on the way to an 8-0 win in six innings in the matinee. Bailey Flewelling finished two for three with four RBI and a run scored. Gracie Rabe tossed her second shutout of the year while allowing just two hits and a walk.
The Hornets scored five runs in the first two innings and cruised to a 5-2 victory to close out the double header sweep. Ari Cordova and Roni Raines each had two RBI while Abbey Ward scored two runs.  Josie Harrison allowed one run on six hits with three strikeouts.

THE COACHES
April Rosales is 206-196 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 3-5 against Rogers State and 9-5 against Northeastern State.
Andrea Vaughan is 265-143-1 in her eighth year at Rogers State. She is 5-3 against Emporia State.
Clay Davis is 281-260-1 in his 11th year with the RiverHawks.  He is 10-13 against Emporia State.

ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 31-17, 11-9 in the MIAA and have won 12 of their last 14 games. The Hornets lead the MIAA and are ranked fourth in the nation with a school record 144 stolen bases. Abbey Ward and Lexi Williams are 1-2 in the MIAA in steals while Alexis Dial is fifth. Ari Cordova is batting .388 with 28 RBI in 29 games. Gracie Rabe is 12-7 with a 2.64 ERA and 57 strikeouts.

ABOUT THE HILLCATS
Rogers State is 35-8, 12-6 in the MIAA and ranked #8 in the nation. They are ninth in the nation with 15 shutouts.
SERIES HISTORY
The Hillcats lead the series 5-3 since the first meeting in 2018.
LAST MEETING
The Hornets got ahead early and cruised to a 6-2 win over the #8 Hillcats.

ABOUT THE RIVERHAWKS
Northeastern State is 25-18, 7-11 in the MIAA. They are third in the nation in double plays turned.
SERIES HISTORY
The Hornets lead the series 33-25 and have won nine of the last 11 meetings.
LAST MEETING
Sydney Righi tossed a four hit shutout as Emporia State stayed alive at the MIAA Tournament with a 2-0 win over Northeastern State.

ON DECK
The Hornets end the regular season at Washburn. First pitch of the Turnpike Tussle in Topeka 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 206-196 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 144 stolen bases this season and are ranked fourth in the nation.  The Hornets have stolen 61 more bases than any other conference team has attempted.  Five Hornets have at least 14 stolen bases on the year.

EVEN BETTER
The Hornets have dominated the middle innings this year, outscoring their opponents 204-144 in the second through sixth innings.  They are especially effective in the even numbered innings with a 53-20 advantage in the second, 48-36 in the fourth and 28-18 in the sixth inning.

HOME SWEET HOME
Emporia State has won 12 straight home games on Turnbull Field at the Trusler Sports Complex and are 18-8 at home this season. The Hornets 12 game home winning streak is their longest since they won 16 straight from April 23, 2011-April 15, 2012. The 18 home wins are the most in a single season since going 18-2 at home in the 2010 season.

AT THE PLATE
Designated player Ari Cordova (Sr./Fort Collins, CO) is in her first season at ESU after transferring from Butler CC. She is batting .388 in 29 games played with eight doubles, two triples, a home run, 28 RBI and 18 runs scored while going 19 of 22 on stolen base attempts. She is on a nine game hitting streak and is batting .536 with 12 RBI in that time. She has reached base safely in 16 straight games. She has missed 19 games with injury this year after being named MIAA Hitter of the Week in February.

BEHIND THE PLATE
Catcher Bailey Flewelling (Jr./Holton, KS) has 30 starts at catcher this year.  She is batting .270 in 37 at bats with a home run and eight RBI. She has thrown out three base stealers this year.
Catcher Sophia Rockhold (So./Oskaloosa, KS) has played in 36 games and made 31 starts for the Hornets. She holds a .304 batting average with four doubles, two triples, a home run, 16 RBI and 12 runs scored.

AROUND THE DIAMOND
First Basemen Haley Garnett (Jr./Olathe, KS) has played in 43 games with 39 starts for the Hornets. She is hitting .267 with three home runs, four doubles, 28 RBI and 22 runs scored. She is tied for the team lead with nine multiple RBI games.She rankes fourth in the MIAA in walks with 24 on the year.
Second Baseman McKensy Glass (Jr./Wichita, KS) is hitting .286 with a .403 on-base percentage while starting 46 games. She has 13 RBI while scoring 23 runs and stealing seven bases. She is hitting .593 when leading off an inning.
Shortstop Abbey Ward (Sr./Olathe, KS) has played in 157 games in her career including starts in all 48 games this season. She is fifth in career stolen bases for the Hornets with 98 in her career, including 32 on 34 attempts this season to lead the MIAA. She is fourth in the MIAA with 40 runs scored. She is batting .293 with a .423 on-base percentage this season. She has nine doubles, a triple and a home run.    
Third Basemen Roni Raines (Sr./Topeka, KS) has started all 48 games this season. She is leading Emporia State with 30 RBI on the season. She is hitting .287 with a .376 on base percentage. With runners on base she is hitting .329 and has a .371 average with runners in scoring position.

OUT IN THE FIELD
Outfielder Lexi Williams (Jr./Hutchinson, KS) has started all 48 games this season with a .262 batting average, 15 RBI and 29 runs scored. She is second in the MIAA with 28 stolen bases.
Outfielder Alexis Dial (Jr./Topeka, KS) has started all 48 games while ranking third in triples and fifth in stolen bases in the MIAA. She is batting .266 with four doubles, four triples, three homers, 22 RBI and 30 runs. She is 21 of 21 on stolen base attempts.
Outfielder Emma Furnish (Jr./Goddard, KS) is batting .293 and has started all 48 games. She is third in the MIAA in triples and ninth in stolen bases. She has two doubles, four triples, one home run, 23 RBI, 26 runs and 14 stolen bases for the Hornets.

ON THE BASES
Utility player Savanna Schenkel (Fr./Bentonville, Ark.) has played in 12 games with one start. She has been used primarily as a pinch runner and has gone three for three on stolen bases with three runs scored in seven pinch running opportunities.

IN THE CIRCLE
Pitcher Gracie Rabe (So./Rossville, KS) is 12-7 with a 2.64 ERA across 103.1 innings while making 16 starts in 21 appearances. She has 57 strikeouts while allowing 24 walks. She has two shutouts on the year. She tossed a two hitter against Newman in her last outing. 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 16 games while making ten starts. She is 6-4 with a 3.60 ERA through 58.1 innings pitched. She has 46 strikeouts on the season. She tossed one hit shutouts against Chadron State and Lincoln. She is also batting .280 on the season and is two for three in pinch hitting situations with three RBI and two runs scored.
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.
Pitcher Hannah Norquest (Sr./York, Neb.) is 1-1 in five appearances with three starts for the Hornets this season. She is 1-1 with a 7.74 ERA in 12.2 innings pitched. She was a part of a shut out on Senior Day against Fort Hays State.