Softball | 2/1/2024 10:38:00 AM
Emporia State Hornets (0-0, 0-0 MIAA)
vs. Concordia-St. Paul Bears (0-0, 0-0 NSIC)
Friday/Saturday, Feb. 2/3 • 9:00 a.m. • Mankato, Minn.
Series Record: ESU leads 11-5 • Last Meeting: ESU 5, CSP 3 (2/20/23)
vs. Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs (0-0, 0-0 NSIC)
Friday, Feb. 2 • 3:15 p.m. • Mankato, Minn.
Series Record: Series tied 6-6 • Last Meeting: ESU 7, MSD 6 (2/21/20)
vs. Minnesota St.-Mankato Mavericks (0-0, 0-0 NSIC)
Saturday/Sunday, Feb. 3/4 • 1:30 p.m./9:00 a.m. • Mankato, Minn.
Series Record: ESU leads 14-11 • Last Meeting: MSU 5, ESU 0 (2/19/23)
vs. Southwest Minn. State Mustangs (0-0, 0-0 NSIC)
Sunday, Feb. 4 • 11:15 a.m. • Mankato, Minn.
Series Record: ESU leads 5-2 • Last Meeting: ESU 8, SWMSU 0 (2/27/22)
Up Next: Alvy Early Classic • Feb. 9-11 • Bentonville, Ark.
LETS GET IT STARTED
Emporia State travels north to open their 2024 season at the Mankato Dome Tournament.
THE COACHES
April Rosales is 208-202 entering her ninth season at Emporia State. She has taken the Hornets to two MIAA Championship with a win in the 2018 MIAA Championship.
Bob Bartel is 529-442-1 entering his 20th season at Concordia-St. Paul.
Lynn Anderson is entering her first season at Minnesota Duluth.
Lori Meyer is 1,366-733-3 entering her 40th season at Minnesota State.
Bailey Bouman is 93-116 entering her sixth season at Southwest Minnesota.
ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is coming off a 33-23 record last season as they finished tenth in the final Central Regional Rankings. The Hornets return six position players with more than 30 hits and 110 at-bats last season and three pitchers that made eight or more starts last season. Gracie Rabe went 14-9 with a 2.85 ERA in 130.0 innings pitched in 2023. Emma Furnish leads the returning position players as she hit .301 with 28 RBI last season. Abbey Ward returns as she led the MIAA in stolen bases, while Alexis Dial and Lexi Williams also ranked in the top seven.
SCOUTING THE BEARS
Concordia-St. Paul finished 30-28 in 2023 and ninth in the NSIC. The Bears return their top three hitters from last season with Annalise Scamehorn and Avery Johnson leading the way. Scamehorn hits .319 with 21 RBI while Johnson hits nine home runs.
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
Minnesota Duluth went 40-13 last season, winning the NSIC Tournament Championship. The Bulldogs return three hitters who batted over .350, including Nichole Scmitt who led the way with a .370 average.
SCOUTING THE MAVERICKS
Minnesota State went 31-19 last season and finished fourth in the NSIC. The Mavericks return top two hitters from last season, Ellie Tallman and Kylie Sullivan who hit .384 and .358 last season.
SCOUTING THE MUSTANGS
Southwest Minnesota finished 17-32 last season. The Mustangs return their leading hitter, Abby Russell, who batted .301 in 2023.
ON DECK
The Hornets will travel to Bentonville, Ark. for the Alvy Early Memorial Classic. Games will take place Feb. 9-11.
