May The Fourth Be With You as Emporia State faces MWSU in elimination game

Softball | 5/3/2023 11:32:00 PM

Emporia State Hornets (33-22, 12-12 MIAA)
vs. Missouri Western Griffons (36-19, 14-12 MIAA)
Thursday, May 4 • 1:30 p.m. • Topeka, Kan. • Envista Softball Complex
Series Record: ESU leads 62-39 • Last Meeting: at MWSU 9, ESU 2 (4/1/23)
Radio: None Video Stream: The MIAA Network
Live Stats • Ticket Info • Complete Notes in pdf
Up Next: Winner vs loser of UCO-UCM
Friday, May 5 • 12:30 pm
Topeka, Kan. • Envista Softball Complex

BATTLE BACK TIME
Emporia State will need to battle back through the consolation bracket starting with Missouri Western.

LAST AT BAT
Emporia State jumped out to a 3-0 lead but could not old on in an 11-3 loss to #25 Missouri Southern in the first round of the MIAA Tournament on Wednesday.
In the first Abbey Ward reached on an infield single and went to third on Josie Harrision's single.  Ari Cordova followed with a single to center and Ward came around to score on a throwing error. Emma Furnish ripped a single to right center that plated two to give the Hornets a 3-0 lead.
The Lions scored five runs in the second and came back with six runs in the third to go up 11-3.  The Hornets would get two runners on in the top of the third but could not score.
Emma Furnish was one for two with two RBI while Haley Garnett was one for two with a run and an RBI.

THE COACHES
April Rosales is 208-201 in her eighth season at Emporia State with a 12-8 record in MIAA Tournament play. 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 6-11 against Missouri Western with a 1-1 record in MIAA Tournament action.
Joe Yegge is 66-41 in his second season at Missouri Western. He is 4-0 against Emporia State.

ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 33-22, 13-13 in the MIAA and ranked tenth in the NCAA Central Region. The Hornets lead the MIAA and are ranked fifth in the nation with a school record 155 stolen bases. They have stolen 59 more bases than any other team in the league has attempted. Abbey Ward and Lexi Williams are ranked first and third in the MIAA in steals while Alexis Dial is sixth and Emma Furnish tenth. Ari Cordova is batting .376 with 32 RBI in 36 games. Gracie Rabe is 14-8 with a 2.55 ERA, 63 strikeouts and two shutouts on the year.

ABOUT THE GRIFFONS
Missouri Western is 36-19, 14-12 in the MIAA and ranked ninth in the NCAA Central Region. Sydni Hawkins leads the MIAA in hits and doubles while ranking second in batting average and triples.

SERIES HISTORY
The Hornets lead the all-time series 62-39 but the Griffons have won eight of the last nine meetings.

LAST MEETING
Multi score innings proved costly to the Hornets in a 9-2 loss to the Griffons.. Missouri Western scored three runs in the top of the first to take the lead for good.  They added four more in the fourth inning to go up 7-0. Josie Harrison was two for three with an RBI.

ON DECK
The winner will play at 12:30 p.m. on Friday against the loser between Central Oklahoma and Central Missouri.

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 208-201 with an MIAA Tournament Championship, two MIAA Tournament title game appearances, and an appearance in the NCAA Central Sub-Regional Championship Game. She is 12-8 in MIAA Tournament play as a head coach.
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 155 stolen bases this season and are ranked fifth in the nation.  The Hornets have stolen 59 more bases than any other conference team has attempted.  Five Hornets have at least 15 stolen bases on the year.
The Hornets are second in the MIAA and rank 22nd in the nation in triples with 18 on the year.

EVEN BETTER
The Hornets have dominated the middle innings this year, outscoring their opponents 215-167 in the second through sixth innings.  They are especially effective in the even numbered innings with a 55-25 advantage in the second, 51-46 in the fourth and 32-22 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.

MIAA TOURNAMENT SUCCESS
The Hornets have won a record ten MIAA Tournament championships and have an all-time record of 73-38 in the post-season tournament.   They have won at least one game in every tournament they have participated in since 2002 - a string of 17 tournaments. They have won 12 of their last 19 MIAA Tournament games including the 2018 MIAA Championship as the #8 seed.

AT THE PLATE
Designated player Ari Cordova (Sr./Fort Collins, CO) was named second-team All-MIAA in her first season at ESU after transferring from Butler CC. She is batting .376 in 36 games played with nine doubles, three triples, two home runs, a team best 32 RBI and 22 runs scored while going 22 of 26 on stolen base attempts. She has reached base safely in 23 straight games. She missed 19 games with injury earlier this year after being named MIAA Hitter of the Week in February.

AROUND THE DIAMOND
First Basemen Haley Garnett (Jr./Olathe, KS) has played in 48 games with 42 starts for the Hornets. She is hitting .263 with four home runs, four doubles, 31 RBI and 24 runs scored. She is tied for the team high with ten multiple RBI games. She ranks tenth in the MIAA in walks with 24 on the year.
Second Baseman McKensy Glass (Jr./Wichita, KS) is hitting .262 with a .383 on-base percentage while starting 53 games. She has 15 RBI while scoring 23 runs and stealing seven bases. She has a .581 on base percentage when leading off an inning.
Shortstop Abbey Ward (Sr./Olathe, KS) has played in 164 games in her career including starts in all 55 games this season. She is fifth in career stolen bases for the Hornets with 102 in her career, including 36 on 39 attempts this season to lead the MIAA. She is eighth in the MIAA with 44 runs scored. She is batting .288 with a .414 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 55 games this season. She has 30 RBI on the season and is hitting .274 with a .365 on base percentage. With runners on base she is hitting .325 and has a .359 average with runners in scoring position.

OUT IN THE FIELD
Outfielder Lexi Williams (Jr./Hutchinson, KS) has started all 55 games this season with a .255 batting average, 15 RBI and 30 runs scored. She is third in the MIAA with 29 stolen bases.
Outfielder Alexis Dial (Jr./Topeka, KS) has started all 55 games while ranking fourth in triples and sixth in stolen bases in the MIAA. She is batting .261 with four doubles, four triples, four homers, 25 RBI and 32 runs. She is 22 of 23 on stolen base attempts.
Outfielder Emma Furnish (Jr./Goddard, KS) is batting .305 and has started all 55 games. She is fourth in the MIAA in triples and tenth in stolen bases. She has three doubles, four triples, one home run, 28 RBI, 28 runs and 16 stolen bases for the Hornets.

BEHIND THE PLATE
Catcher Bailey Flewelling (Jr./Holton, KS) has 35 starts at catcher this year.  She is batting .229 in 48 at bats with a home run and eight RBI. She has thrown out four base stealers this year.
Catcher Sophia Rockhold (So./Oskaloosa, KS) has played in 41 games and made 32 starts for the Hornets. She holds a .286 batting average with four doubles, two triples, a home run, 16 RBI and 12 runs scored.

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 14-8 with a 2.55 ERA across 126.1 innings while making 19 starts in 25 appearances. She has 63 strikeouts while allowing 28 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. She is eighth in the MIAA in wins.
Pitcher Sydney Righi (Gr./Blue Springs, MO) has started 14 games in the circle and made 23 appearances this season. She has a 4-5 record with two saves across 78.2 innings pitched with a 3.92 ERA, 38 strikeouts and 25 walks. She is seventh in the MIAA in saves.
Pitcher Josie Harrison (Sr./St. Mary's, KS) has pitched in 18 games while making 11 starts. She is 6-5 with a 4.05 ERA through 65.2 innings pitched. She has 54 strikeouts on the season. She tossed one hit shutouts against Chadron State and Lincoln. She is also batting .266 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 51.2 innings this season for Emporia State across 19 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.

REGIONALLY SPEAKING
The Hornets are one of six MIAA teams in the top ten of the latest NCAA Central Regional Rankings.  The automatic qualifiers from the MIAA, NSIC and GAC along with the next five highest ranked teams in the region will advance to the NCAA Tournament.