Senior Weekend for Emporia State Softball

Softball | 4/6/2023 11:43:00 PM

Emporia State Hornets (21-15, 3-7 MIAA)
vs. Neb.-Kearney Lopers (13-21, 4-6 MIAA)
Friday, April 7 • 3:00 p.m. (DH) • Emporia, Kan. • Trusler Sports Complex
Series Record: ESU leads 26-18 • Last Meeting: UNK 3, ESU 1 (5/7/2022)
Radio: None Video Stream: The MIAA Network
vs. Fort Hays State Tigers (24-13, 6-4 MIAA)
Saturday, April 8 • 1:00 p.m. (DH) • Emporia, Kan. • Trusler Sports Complex
Series Record: ESU leads 47-33 • Last Meeting: ESU 8, at FHSU 0 (4/9/2022)
Radio: KFFX 104.9FM Video Stream: The MIAA Network
Live Stats • Ticket Info • Complete Notes in pdf
Up Next: vs. Rockhurst
Tuesday, April 12 • 3:00 p.m. (DH) • Emporia, Kan. • Trusler Sports Complex

FINAL WEEKEND
Emporia State will play their final home weekend action as they play host to Neb.-Kearney and Fort Hays State. Seniors Sydney Righi, Roni Raines and Hannah Norquest will be honored prior to Saturday's double header.

LAST AT BAT
Emporia State softball returned to the friendly confines of the Trusler Sports Complex and swept William Jewell on Tuesday.  
Gracie Rabe took a no hitter to the last batter she faced while the Hornet offense matched their season high in a 15-0 run rule victory in the matinee. Rabe went the distance in the shut out, giving up just the one hit to the last batter of the game.
Ward scored the first and last runs of the game as Emporia State put up their second straight run rule win with a 9-1 victory in six innings in the nightcap. Sydney Righi went the distance allowing one run on four hits.

THE COACHES
April Rosales is 196-194 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 7-6 against Neb.-Kearney.
Katie Ackermann is 68-86 in her fourth year as head coach for the Lopers.  She is 2-3 against Emporia State.
Adrian Pilkington is 187-236-1 in her ninth year as head coach for the Tigers.  She is 7-7 against Emporia State.

ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 21-15 overall and 3-7 in the MIAA. They have gone 18-8 in non-conference action. The Hornets lead the MIAA and are ranked eighth in the nation in stolen bases. Abbey Ward and Lexi Williams are 1-2 in the MIAA in steals. Roni Raines has a team best 25 RBI. Gracie Rabe is 8-5 with a 2.37 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 76.2 innings. Six Hornets have pitched at least 8.0 innings.

ABOUT THE LOPERS
Neb.-Kearney is 13-21, 4-6 in the MIAA. They had lost eight in a row before beating Pitt State 2-0 last Sunday.
SERIES HISTORY
The Hornets lead the series 26-18 and have won six of the last ten meetings.
LAST MEETING
Despite scoring a run, the Hornets were no hit in a 3-1 loss to the Lopers in the MIAA tourney.

ABOUT THE TIGERS
Neb.-Kearney is 24-13, 6-4 in the MIAA heading into the weekend. They have split their last six games.
SERIES HISTORY
The Hornets lead the series 47-33 and have won four of the last six meetings.
LAST MEETING
Emporia State fell 7-6 in the opener before posting an 8-0 win in the nightcap at Fort Hays State.

ON DECK
The Hornet wrap up an eight game homestand with Rockhurst on Tuesday, April 12.

IN THE DUGOUT
April Rosales is in her eighth season leading the Emporia State softball program. She is 196-194 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 106 stolen bases and are ranked eighth in the nation.  The Hornets have stolen 34 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 31 games with 29 starts for the Hornets. Garnett is hitting .282 this season with two home runs, four doubles, 20 RBI and 12 runs scored.
Second Baseman McKensy Glass (Jr./Wichita, KS) is hitting .289 with a .411 on-base percentage while starting 34 games. Glass has 12 RBI while scoring 15 runs and stealing six bases.
Shortstop Abbey Ward (Sr./Olathe, KS) has played in 145 games in her career including starts in all 36 games for the Hornets this season. Ward is batting .320 with a .452 on-base percentage. She has eight doubles, a triple and a home run. She has driven in 10 runs while scoring a team high 29 of her own. She is fifth in career stolen bases for the Hornets with 91 in her career, including 25 on 26 attempts this season to lead the MIAA.  
Third Basemen Roni Raines (Sr./Topeka, KS) is in her senior season with the Hornets and has started all 36 games this season. She is leading Emporia State with 25 RBI on the season. She is hitting .290 with a .367 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 .327 across her 18 games played with three doubles, a triple, a home run, 15 RBI and 13 runs scored. Cordova is also 13 of 13 on stolen base attempts. She had missed the ten games with an injury before starting the second game of the double header against William Jewell.

OUT IN THE FIELD
Outfielder Lexi Williams (Jr./Hutchinson, KS) has started all 36 games for the Hornets this season with a .284 batting average, 12 RBI and 24 runs scored. She is second in the MIAA with 23 stolen bases in 26 attempts.
Outfielder Alexis Dial (Jr./Topeka, KS) has started all 36 games for the Hornets and is batting .274 with three home runs, 17 RBI and 22 runs scored. She is 13 of 13 on stolen base attempts.
Outfielder Emma Furnish (Jr./Goddard, KS) is batting .324 with a .393 on base percentage through 36 games. She has two doubles, a league high four triples, one home run, 19 RBI and 22 runs scored for the Hornets.

BEHIND THE PLATE
Catcher Bailey Flewelling (Jr./Holton, KS) has 24 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 27 games and made 24 starts for the Hornets. She holds a .306 batting average with four doubles, 12 RBI and ten runs scored.

IN THE CIRCLE
Pitcher Gracie Rabe (So./Rossville, KS) is in her second season with the Hornets and has a 2.37 ERA across 76.2 innings while making 11 starts in 15 appearances. Rabe is 8-5 and has recorded 40 strikeouts while allowing 15 walks. She had a no hitter up until the last batter against Lincoln, 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 seven games in the circle and made 15 appearances for the Hornets this season. She has a 3-2 record with two saves across 51.1 innings pitched with a 3.27 ERA. She has recorded 28 strikeouts and allowed 16 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.