Turnpike Tussle to end the regular season for Emporia State Softball

Softball | 4/27/2023 9:49:00 PM

Emporia State Hornets (32-20, 12-12 MIAA)
at
Washburn Ichabods (35-13, 14-10 MIAA)
Saturday, April 29 • 1:00 p.m. (DH) • Topeka, Kan. • Gahnstrom Field
Series Record: ESU leads 96-65 • Last Meeting: WU 8, ESU 0 (5/5/22-MIAA)
Radio: None Video Stream: The MIAA Network
Live Stats • Complete Notes in pdf
Up Next: MIAA Tournament
Wednesday, May 3 • TBA • Topeka, Kan. • Lake Shawnee

TURNPIKE TUSSLE
Emporia State ends the regular season with a key MIAA doubleheader at Washburn. The Turnpike Tussle will have a big part in determining MIAA and NCAA Regional Tournament seedings.

LAST AT BAT
The magic number was seven in Tahlequah, Okla. as Emporia State and Northeastern State split a double header.  
The Hornets scored early and Gracie Rabe took a one hitter into the sixth inning as ESU won 7-1 in the matinee. Abbey Ward went one for two with a home run, two stolen bases, two RBI and two runs scored. Gracie Rabe scattered five hits over 7.0 innings with three strikeouts and two walks while allowing just one run.
The teams combined for five home runs with the RiverHawks belting four on the way to a 7-2 win in the nightcap. Haley Garnett was one for three with a home run and two RBI.  Sydney Righi took the loss, allowing three runs on three hits.  Josie Harrison would start and end the game allowing three runs on eight hits with six strikeouts in 6.0 innings.

THE COACHES
April Rosales is 207-199 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 9-12 against Washburn.
Brenda Holaday is 213-129 in her seventh year as head coach at Washburn. She is 10-7 against Emporia State.

ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 32-20, 12-12 in the MIAA. The Hornets lead the MIAA and are ranked fourth in the nation with a school record 152 stolen bases. They have stolen 63 more bases than any other team in the league has attempted. Abbey Ward and Lexi Williams are 1-2 in the MIAA in steals while Alexis Dial is sixth and Emma Furnish tenth. Ari Cordova is batting .359 with 29 RBI in 33 games. Gracie Rabe is 13-8 with a 2.61 ERA, 60 strikeouts and two shutouts on the year.

ABOUT THE ICHABODS
Washburn is 35-13, 14-10 in the MIAA and ranked seventh in the NCAA Central Regional Rankings. Jayce Ginter leads the league in innings pitched, strikeouts and wins while ranking second in ERA and opponents batting average.

SERIES HISTORY
The Hornets lead the all-time series 96-65 with the Ichabods winning the last four meetings.

LAST MEETING
Emporia State fell 8-0 against Washburn in the opening round of the 2022 MIAA Softball Tournament.

ON DECK
The MIAA Tournament will begin on Wednesday, May 3 in Topeka at Lake Shawnee's Envista Softball Complex. Action will begin on two diamonds at 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 207-199 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 152 stolen bases this season and are ranked fourth in the nation.  The Hornets have stolen 63 more bases than any other conference team has attempted.  Five Hornets have at least 15 stolen bases on the year.
The Hornets lead the Association and rank 19th in the nation in triples with 17 on the year.

EVEN BETTER
The Hornets have dominated the middle innings this year, outscoring their opponents 210-158 in the second through sixth innings.  They are especially effective in the even numbered innings with a 54-20 advantage in the second, 50-43 in the fourth and 30-22 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 .359 in 33 games played with nine doubles, two triples, a home run, 30 RBI and 20 runs scored while going 21 of 25 on stolen base attempts. She has reached base safely in 20 straight games. She missed 19 games with injury earlier this year after being named MIAA Hitter of the Week in February.

BEHIND THE PLATE
Catcher Bailey Flewelling (Jr./Holton, KS) has 33 starts at catcher this year.  She is batting .250 in 44 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 40 games and made 32 starts for the Hornets. She holds a .289 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 45 games with 41 starts for the Hornets. She is hitting .264 with four home runs, four doubles, 30 RBI and 23 runs scored. She has a team high ten multiple RBI games.She ranks sixth in the MIAA in walks with 24 on the year.
Second Baseman McKensy Glass (Jr./Wichita, KS) is hitting .276 with a .394 on-base percentage while starting 50 games. She has 15 RBI while scoring 23 runs and stealing seven bases. She has a .600 on base percentage when leading off an inning.
Shortstop Abbey Ward (Sr./Olathe, KS) has played in 161 games in her career including starts in all 52 games this season. She is fifth in career stolen bases for the Hornets with 101 in her career, including 35 on 38 attempts this season to lead the MIAA. She is seventh in the MIAA with 42 runs scored. She is batting .290 with a .418 on-base percentage this season. She has nine doubles, a triple and two home runs.    
Third Basemen Roni Raines (Sr./Topeka, KS) has started all 52 games this season. She is tied for Emporia State's team lead with 30 RBI on the season. She is hitting .277 with a .368 on base percentage. With runners on base she is hitting .316 and has a .359 average with runners in scoring position.

OUT IN THE FIELD
Outfielder Lexi Williams (Jr./Hutchinson, KS) has started all 52 games this season with a .272 batting average, 15 RBI and 30 runs scored. She is second in the MIAA with 29 stolen bases.
Outfielder Alexis Dial (Jr./Topeka, KS) has started all 52 games while ranking third in triples and sixth in stolen bases in the MIAA. She is batting .267 with four doubles, four triples, four homers, 25 RBI and 31 runs. She is 22 of 22 on stolen base attempts.
Outfielder Emma Furnish (Jr./Goddard, KS) is batting .310 and has started all 52 games. She is third in the MIAA in triples and tenth in stolen bases. She has three doubles, four triples, one home run, 25 RBI, 28 runs and 15 stolen bases for the Hornets.

ON THE BASES
Utility player Savanna Schenkel (Fr./Bentonville, Ark.) has played in 14 games with one start. She has been used primarily as a pinch runner and has gone three for three on stolen bases with four runs scored in seven pinch running opportunities.

IN THE CIRCLE
Pitcher Gracie Rabe (So./Rossville, KS) is 13-8 with a 2.61 ERA across 118.0 innings while making 18 starts in 23 appearances. She has 60 strikeouts while allowing 26 walks. She has two shutouts on the year. She tossed a two hitter against Newman. 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 13 games in the circle and made 22 appearances this season. She has a 4-4 record with two saves across 70.0 innings pitched with a 4.10 ERA, 35 strikeouts and 23 walks. She is fifth in the MIAA in saves.
Pitcher Josie Harrison (Sr./St. Mary's, KS) has pitched in 17 games while making ten starts. She is 6-4 with a 3.59 ERA through 64.1 innings pitched. She has 52 strikeouts on the season. She tossed one hit shutouts against Chadron State and Lincoln. She is also batting .263 on the season and is two for three with three RBI and two runs scored in pinch hitting situations.
Pitcher Jayda VanAckeren (Jr./St. Mary's, KS) is 5-2 on the season. She has pitched 50.1innings this season for Emporia State across 18 appearances, while making eight starts.
Pitcher Kelly Hipsher (Jr./Olathe, Kan.) is 3-1 with a 3.13 ERA in ten appearances out of the bullpen this year.
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.