Softball | 2/21/2024 2:31:00 PM
Emporia State Hornets (9-6, 0-0 MIAA)
vs. Minot State Beavers (5-3, 0-0 NSIC)
Friday, Feb. 23 • 10:00 a.m. • Topeka, Kan.
Series Record: ESU leads 2-1 • Last Meeting: ESU 3, MSU 1 (2/10/23)
vs. Minnesota State Mavericks (5-1, 0-0 NSIC)
Friday, Feb. 23 • 12:00 p.m. • Topeka, Kan.
Series Record: ESU leads 14-13 • Last Meeting: MSU 8, ESU 0 (2/4/24)
vs. Augustana Vikings (4-4, 0-0 NSIC)
Saturday, Feb. 24 • 10:00 a.m. • Topeka, Kan.
Series Record: ESU leads 12-10 • Last Meeting: AUGIE 5, ESU 3 (3/21/21)
vs. Minnesota-Crookston Golden Eagles (2-2, 0-0 NSIC)
Saturday, Feb. 24 • 12:00 p.m. • Topeka, Kan.
Series Record: ESU leads 4-0 • Last Meeting: ESU 6, UMC 5 (2/28/22)
vs. Maryville Saints (1-8, 0-0 GLVC)
Sunday, Feb. 25 • 2:00 p.m. • Topeka, Kan.
Series Record: MU leads 1-0 • Last Meeting: MU 2, ESU 0 (2/21/20)
vs. Sioux Falls Cougars (5-6, 0-0 NSIC)
Sunday, Feb. 25 • 4:00 p.m. • Topeka, Kan.
Series Record: ESU leads 6-4 • Last Meeting: ESU 3, USF 2 (2/19/24)
Up Next: at Newman (DH) • Mar. 8 • Wichita, Kan.
TURNPIKE TUNE UP
Emporia State travels up the turnpike for a six-game slate in the Washburn Invitational for their final games before opening MIAA action.
THE COACHES
April Rosales is 217-208 in her ninth season at Emporia State. She has taken the Hornets to two MIAA Championship with a win in the 2018 MIAA Championship. Coach Rosales will not be coaching this weekend due to doctor's orders regarding her pregnancy. Assistant Coach Megan Hill will coach in her absence and is 8-1 as interim coach this season.
Sal Rodriguez is 5-3 in his first season at Minot State.
Lori Meyer is 1371-443-1 in her 40th season at Minnesota State.
Gretta Melsted is 767-352 in her 18th season at Augustana.
Nick Weinmeister is 35-72 in his third season at Minnesota-Crookston.
Courtney Conley is 112-97 in her sixth season at Maryville.
Erin Bly is 5-6 in her first season at Sioux Falls.
ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 9-6 this season and have won eight straight games and are outscoring opponents 94-61. The Hornets are led offensively by a host of upperclassmen with Alexis Dial leading the way as she is hitting .533 with a 1.436 OPS and 24 RBI which leads the MIAA. Dial also has eight doubles, two home runs, 12 runs scored and nine stolen bases. Lexi Williams and Abbey Ward join Dial at the top of the order and are batting .489 and .340 respectively. Williams and Ward also rank in the top three in runs scored in the MIAA while Ward leads the league with 13 stolen bases. In the circle, the Hornets have used a collection of five pitchers who have made four or more appearances. Gracie Rabe has a team-best 2.36 ERA across 26.2 innings and Jayda VanAckeren is coming off an MIAA Pitcher of the Week performance as she threw a shutout against Wayne State in the ESU Classic.
ON DECK
The Hornets will have an off week before opening conference play with a trip south on I-35 for doubleheaders against Newman and Central Oklahoma on March 8-9.
