Softball | 1/30/2025 10:04:00 AM
Games 1-6
Emporia State Hornets (0-0)
vs. Oklahoma Baptist Bison (0-0)
Friday, January 31 • 10:00 a.m. • Branson, Mo.
Series History: OBU leads 2-0 •
Last Meeting: OBU 4, ESU 0 (2/19/23)
vs. Truman State Bulldogs (0-0)
Friday, January 31 • 12:00 p.m. • Branson, Mo.
Series History: ESU leads 38-27 •
Last Meeting: ESU 6, TSU 2 (5/4/13)
vs. Southwestern Oklahoma Bulldogs (0-0)
Saturday, February 1 • 10:00 a.m. • Branson, Mo.
Series History: ESU leads 8-3 •
Last Meeting: ESU 1, SWOSU 0 (2/4/17)
vs. Upper Iowa Peacocks (0-0)
Saturday, February 1 • 12:00 p.m. • Branson, Mo.
Series History: ESU leads 8-0 •
Last Meeting: ESU 7, UIU 3 (2/13/22)
vs. Arkansas Tech Golden Suns (0-0)
Sunday, February 2 • 9:00 a.m. • Branson, Mo.
Series History: ATU leads 5-3 •
Last Meeting: ATU 9, ESU 5 (2/8/18)
vs. Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles (0-0)
Sunday, February 2 • 11:00 a.m. • Branson, Mo.
Series History: ESU leads 6-0 •
Last Meeting: ESU 9, UMC 1 (2/24/24)
FIRST PITCH
Emporia State Softball begins their season with a trip to the Ozarks for the Branson Lead-Off Classic.
2024 IN REVIEW
The Hornets went 31-20 last season, and finished sixth in the MIAA with a 14-12 conference record. As the sixth seed in the MIAA Tournament, Emporia State fell in the first round to three seed and #9 ranked Central Oklahoma 8-6.
ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State enters the 2025 campaign with a host of new faces looking to make an impact as the Hornets graduated a host of seniors, including NFCA All-American Alexis Dial who hit .430 last season. The main returners include four seniors, Haley Garnett, Jordan Harrison, Gracie Rabe and Jayda VanAckeren with the latter three set to continue their roles in the circle. Rabe had a 2.88 ERA last season in a team-high 114.1 innings pitched. Haley Garnett posted a .421 OBP last season, tied for second on the Hornets and will be joined in the lineup by returning underclassmen Juliana De Luna, Brooke Flewelling and Avery Brewer who all played in 25 or more games last season.
SCOUTING THE BISON
Oklahoma Baptist went 41-14 last season and enters year one under head coach Jace Brewer. The Bison will be led in 2025 by Morgan Max, last season's GAC Player of the Year.
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
Truman State was 23-29 last season and finished .500 in the GLVC. The Bulldogs return their leading three hitters from last season.
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
Southwestern Oklahoma went 16-33 last season and will look to improve as they return their three best hitters from 2024.
SCOUTING THE PEACOCKS
Upper Iowa went 17-35 in 2024 and enter year two under head coach Aubrey Honeycutt.
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN SUNS
Arkansas Tech went 26-21 and 17-16 in the GAC in 2024 and were picked sixth in the GAC Preseason Poll.
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN EAGLES
Minnesota Crookston went 14-39 last seasons and will be led by returners Whitnee Curry and Alexa Guilford.
IN THE DUGOUT
April Rosales is entering her ninth season leading the Emporia State softball program. Through the 2024 season, her record as head coach is 239-222. Since taking over the program in 2016, Rosales has led the Hornets to an MIAA Tournament Championship, two MIAA Tournament title game appearances, and an appearance in the NCAA Central Sub-Regional Championship.
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 RunnerUp 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.
IN THE FIELD
Infielder/Designated Player Haley Garnett (Gr./Olathe, KS) is in year two with the Hornets and played in 43 games last season. Garnett hit .238 with four home runs and 19 RBI, but reached base at a .421 clip as she drew a team-high 31 walks, which was also a top-five mark in the MIAA.
Infielder Avery Brewer (So./Jenks, OK) played in 25 games for Emporia State in her first season, primarily at first base. Brewer hit .290 across 62 at-bats and had 18 hits, 12 RBI and seven runs scored.
Infielder Brooke Flewelling (So./Holton, KS) is in year two with the Hornets after playing in 35 games as a freshman, primarily at third base. Flewelling hit .259 and had four home runs, nine extra-base hits, and 12 runs scored in her first season.
Outfielder Juliana De Luna (So./San Antonio, TX) played in 30 games as a freshman, handling duties both in the outfield and on the bases. De Luna tallied five hits and five RBI while also scoring 12 runs. She also went 4-5 on steals.
Utility Karli Wehunt (So./Shidler, OK) played in 23 games and had eight hits, two doubles, six RBI and seven runs scored in her first season at Emporia State. Wehunt also drew 12 walks across 58 plate appearances.
IN THE CIRCLE
Senior Gracie Rabe (Sr./Rossville, KS) returns for her fourth season with the Hornets after tallying over 330 innings in her first three years at Emporia State. Rabe has led the Hornets in innings pitched each of the last two seasons, and pitched 114.1 in 2024, posting a career-best 2.88 ERA and 63 strikeouts.
Senior Jordan Harrison (Sr./St. Mary's, KS) racked up 88.0 innings in her first season at Emporia State in 2024, while posting a team-high 76 strikeouts and allowing just 14 walks. In addition to 12 starts in the circle, Harrison also recorded 12 relief appearances, which resulted in two saves.
Senior Jayda VanAckeren (Sr./Omaha, NE) has made 57 career appearances in the circle for the Hornets and set multiple career-bests in the 2024 season. She posted a 5.01 ERA in 64.1 innings, with eight wins, four complete games, and a .316 opponent batting average, all of which are career-bests.
FRESH FACES
The Hornets have a host of newcomers, including both freshman and juco transfers that will look to make an impact in the 2025 season. Addyson Easter, Taryn Burkhardt and Leslie Ramos all join the Hornets as juniors and hit above .345 during the 2024 season at the previous school. In addition to the several newcomers on Emporia State, the Hornets will be looking to replace a large amount of offensive production. The Hornets are returning less than 25% of their runs scored, hits, extra-base hits, total bases and stolen bases from the 2024 season.
