Homestand for Hornet softball starts with midweek against William Jewell

Softball | 4/3/2023 5:06:00 PM

Emporia State Hornets (19-15, 3-7 MIAA)
vs.
William Jewell Cardinals (5-25, 0-12 MIAA)
Tuesday, April 4 • 3:00 p.m. (DH) • Emporia, Kan. • Trusler Sports Complex
Series Record: WJC leads 8-7 • Last Meeting: at WJC 8, ESU 7 (3/16/2022)
Radio: None Video Stream: The MIAA Network
Live Stats • Ticket Info • Complete Notes in pdf
Up Next: vs. Neb.-Kearney
Friday, April 7 • 3:00 p.m. (DH) • Emporia, Kan. • Trusler Sports Complex

HOME COOKING
Emporia State returns to the Trusler Sports Complex for a six game series starting with a non-conference double header against William Jewell.

LAST AT BAT
Emporia State came up short on both ends of their MIAA double header at Missouri Western on Saturday.  
A pair of four run innings by Missouri Western were the difference in the matinee as Emporia State fell 8-0 in five innings.
Haley Garnett was two for two but as a team Emporia State left seven runners on base.
 Multi score innings again proved costly to the Hornets in the second game of the day.
Missouri Western scored three runs in the top of the first and added four more in the fourth inning to go up 7-0. Emporia State got on the board in the top of the fifth thanks to RBI singles from Emma Furnish and Josie Harrison. The Griffons got the two runs back thanks to a two run homer by Mackenzie Devine in the sixth for the final score. Harrison was two for three with an RBI in the second game.

THE COACHES
April Rosales is 194-194 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 5-6 against William Jewell.
Dustin Combs is 406-391 in his 17th year at William Jewell. He is 7-6 against Emporia State.

ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 19-15 overall and 3-7 in the MIAA. They have gone 16-8 in non-conference action. The Hornets lead the MIAA and are ranked eighth in the nation in stolen bases. Lexi Williams, Abbey Ward, Ari Cordova, and Alexis Dial all rank in the top ten of the MIAA in steals. Emma Furnish is batting .327 and Roni Raines has a team best 24 RBI. Gracie Rabe is 7-5 with a 2.54 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 71.2 innings. Six Hornets have pitched at least 8.0 innings.

ABOUT THE CARDINALS
William Jewell is 5-25, 0-12 in the GLVC. They have lost 13 of their last 14 games with the one win being 5-3 over Northwest Missouri on March 29. Payton Totzke is their leading hitter at .295 with 12 runs scored. Aliyah Santiago is 2-3 with a 2.12 ERA while Sydney Parra is 0-10 with a 4.40 ERA in 68.1 innings.

SERIES HISTORY
William Jewell leads the series 8-7 and have won three of the last four however Emporia State has outscored the Cardinals 21-19 in those four games.

LAST MEETING
Emporia State dropped a pair of games to William Jewell at the Urban Youth Academy in Kansas City. The Hornets lost game one 6-3 and fell 8-7 in eight innings in the nightcap.

ON DECK
The Hornets play host to Neb.-Kearney on Friday, April 7. First pitch from the Trusler Sports Complex is set for 3:00 p.m.

IN THE DUGOUT
April Rosales is in her eighth season leading the Emporia State softball program. She is 194-194 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 98 stolen bases and are ranked eighth in the nation.  The Hornets have stolen 28 more bases than any other conference team has attempted.  Five Hornets have at least ten stolen bases on the year.

AROUND THE DIAMOND
First Basemen Haley Garnett (Jr./Olathe, KS) is in her first season with Emporia State after transferring from Butler CC. She has played in 30 games with 28 starts for the Hornets. Garnett is hitting .280 this season with two home runs, three doubles, 16 RBI and 12 runs scored.
Second Baseman McKensy Glass (Jr./Wichita, KS) is hitting .278 with a .393 on-base percentage while starting 32 games. Glass has ten RBI while scoring 12 runs and stealing six bases.
Shortstop Abbey Ward (Sr./Olathe, KS) has played in 143 games in her career including starts in all 34 games for the Hornets this season. Ward is batting .287 with a .422 on-base percentage. She has eight doubles and has driven in six runs while scoring a team high 23 of her own. She is fifth in career stolen bases for the Hornets with 96 in her career, including 22 on 23 attempts this season to tie for the MIAA lead.  
Third Basemen Roni Raines (Sr./Topeka, KS) is in her senior season with the Hornets and has started all 34 games this season and is leading Emporia State with 24 RBI on the season. She is hitting .280 with a .336 on base percentage.
Designated player Ari Cordova (Sr./Fort Collins, CO) is in her first season with the Hornets after transferring from Butler CC. She is batting .348 across her 17 games played with three doubles, a triple, a home run, 14 RBI and 13 runs scored. Cordova is also 13 of 13 on stolen base attempts. She has missed the last nine games with an injury.

OUT IN THE FIELD
Outfielder Lexi Williams (Jr./Hutchinson, KS) has started all 34 games for the Hornets this season with a .273 batting average, ten RBI and 22 runs scored. She is tied for the MIAA lead with 22 stolen bases in 25 attempts.
Outfielder Alexis Dial (Jr./Topeka, KS) has started all 34 games for the Hornets and is batting .264 with three home runs, 17 RBI and 19 runs scored. She is 13 of 13 on stolen base attempts.
Outfielder Emma Furnish (Jr./Goddard, KS) is batting .327 with a .400 on base percentage through 34 games. She has two doubles, a league high four triples, one home run, 18 RBI and 20 runs scored for the Hornets.

BEHIND THE PLATE
Catcher Bailey Flewelling (Jr./Holton, KS) has 23 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 25 games and made 22 starts for the Hornets. She holds a .266 batting average with three doubles, eight RBI and seven runs scored.

IN THE CIRCLE
Pitcher Gracie Rabe (So./Rossville, KS) is in her second season with the Hornets and has a 2.54 ERA across 71.2 innings while making ten starts in 14 appearances. Rabe is 7-5 and has recorded 39 strikeouts while allowing 15 walks.
Pitcher Sydney Righi (Gr./Blue Springs, MO) has started six games in the circle and made 14 appearances for the Hornets this season. She has a 2-2 record with two saves across 45.1 innings pitched with a 3.55 ERA. She has recorded 25 strikeouts and allowed 14 walks.
Pitcher Josie Harrison (Sr./St. Mary's, KS) has pitched in ten games while making eight starts. She is 3-4 with a 4.43 ERA through 36.1 innings pitched. She has 30 strikeouts on the season. She tossed a 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.