Midweek Trip To Springfield for Emporia State Softball

Softball | 4/14/2025 5:00:00 PM

Emporia State Hornets (26-20, 7-13 MIAA) at Drury Panthers (27-17, 19-5 GLVC)
Wednesday, April 16 | 1:00 p.m. (DH) 
Springfield, Mo. | Thompson Field at Meador Park
Overall: ESU leads 6-4  Last Meeting: at ESU 6, Drury 3 (3/13/24)
Radio: None Internet Audio: None Video: The GLVC Sports Network
Live Stats | Complete Notes in pdf
Up Next: vs. Newman (DH)
Saturday, April 19 | 12:00 p.m.
Emporia, Kan. | Trusler Sports Complex

MID-WEEK NON-CON 
Emporia State will take a break for MIAA action on Wednesday as they travel to Springfield, Mo. to take on Drury in a mid-week doubleheader. This is the only stand alone mid-week double header of the season for the Hornets.

LAST TIME OUT
Emporia State was swept on Saturday by Missouri Western, falling 4-2 in game one and 2-1 in the second game.
Game One
The Hornets got out to an early lead thqnks to a Brooke Flewelling two run double but the Griffons scored single runs in the fifth and sixth to take a 4-2 win in the matinee.
Gracie Rabe took the loss despite allowing just four runs, three of them earned, on four hits with four strikeouts.
Flewelling had two RBI while Mallory Moore and Ally Miller each scored a run for the Hornets.
Game Two
A solo home run proved to be the difference in a pitching duel won by Missouri Western 2-1 in the night cap.
Jordan Harrison allowed two runs on three hits with five strikeouts in the loss.
Leslie Ramos drove in Ally Miller for the only Hornet run of the game.

ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 26-20, 7-13 in the MIAA. They have won 13 of their last 15 non-conference games with one of the losses to #14 Augustana. 
The Hornets are second in the MIAA and 19th in the nation with 96 total stolen bases. Brooke Flewelling is tied for fourth in the league and 39th in the nation in home runs, is fourth in the MIAA in RBI, fifth in slugging percentage and seventh in OPS. Taryn Burkhardt is third in the association and 12th nationally in stolen bases and fourth in the MIAA in walks drawn. Kinsey Perine is 11th in the conference in stolen bases.
In the circle, the Hornets are fourth in the MIAA in strikeout to walk ratio and are led by a trio of seniors. Gracie Rabe is second in the MIAA in walks allowed per seven innings and appearances, is ranked fourth in innings pitched, shutouts and WHIP, and is sixth in strikeout to walk ratio. Jordan Harrison is fifth in the league strikeout to walk ratio, sixth in innings pitched, and seventh in strikeouts and wins. Jayda VanAckeren is one of just three MIAA pitchers to have given up just two or fewer homers on the season.
Emporia State has a team fielding percentage of .962 to rank tenth in the MIAA.

IN THE DUGOUT
April Rosales is in her tenth season leading the Emporia State softball program. Her record as head coach for the Hornets is 265-242. 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 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.
She is 4-3 against Drury.
Brooke Gajewski is 57-41 in her second year at Drury. She is 1-1 against Emporia State.

SCOUTING THE PANTHERS
Drury is 27-17 on the season, 19-5 in the GLVC. They are 4-3 against the MIAA including a doubleheader sweep against then #25 Pittsburg State in Springfield. The Panthers are 17-5 at home this year. They are seventh in the GLVC with a .281 batting average, are fourth in stolen bases with 66, sixth in runs scored with 213,  and rank tenth with 15 home runs. Sophia Luetticke is leading the GLVC and ranked fourth in the nation with 39 stolen bases and is second in the league with 44 runs scored. They are ranked fifth in the GLVC with a 3.54 team ERA, are seventh in opponents batting average and 12th in strikeouts. AJ Agers has a team high 20 appearances with a ten complete games, a 9-5 record and 2.63 ERA.  Jordyn Foley is 6-6 with a 4.00 ERA in 14 starts while Natalie Wilks is 5-2 with a 2.63 ERA in 17 appearances with four starts. The Panthers are sixth in the GLVC with a .962 fielding percentage.

SERIES HISTORY
The Hornets lead the all-time series 6-4 and have won three of the last four meetings, all in Emporia. The Panthers swept the only double header in Springfield in 2022.   

LAST AT BAT WITH DRURY
The Hornets got the offense going at the end of the game as they won 6-3 over the Panthers in the night cap of their double header at Trusler.
Drury took the lead in the top of the first thanks to a pair of unearned runs with two outs.  
Emporia State cut the lead in half in the bottom of the second without the benefit of a hit.  Haley Garnett walked, followed by Abbey Ward, Josie Harrison and McKenzie Glass each getting hit by a pitch. A fielder's choice and ground out ended the inning as the Hornets left the bases loaded.
The Panthers extended their lead with an unearned run in the top of the fifth. Emma Furnish led off the bottom of the fifth by reaching on an error and went to third on a single by Lexi Williams. Bailey Flewelling tied the game with a two run single to right center. Josie Harrison then reached on an error with two outs that plated pinch runner Kylie Chester to give ESU a 4-3 lead.
The Hornets added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth, Karli Wehunt worked a walk and went to third on an Alexis Dial pinch hit single to left. After a sac bunt advanced both runners Williams singled to plate Wehunt.  Bailey Flewelling wrapped up the scoring with a single through the left side that scored Juliana De Luna.
Jayda VanAckeren worked a perfect seventh to end the game and give the Hornets a 6-3 win. Bailey Flewelling was three for four with three RBI while Lexi Williams and McKensy Glass each had RBI.  Jayda Van Ackeren went the distance in the circle, allowing three unearned runs on five hits with three strikeouts.

OFF AND RUNNING
The Hornets have led or finished inside the top three in the MIAA in stolen bases in eight of the last nine seasons and are in that position again this season. Emporia State is 96 of 111 on the base paths, with their 96 total steals ranking second in the MIAA and 19th in the nation. Four players have at least ten stolen bases led by Taryn Burkhardt with 34 steals on the season. Burkhardt needs three steals to tie Morgan Viola for fifth on the ESU single season chart.

ROAD WARRIORS 
Emporia State played 34 games before they made their home debut at the Trusler Sports Complex on March 28 against Neb.-Kearney. It was the latest home opening date for the Hornets since opening the 2022 season on April 1 after playing 32 games away from Trusler.

HEART STOPPING HORNETS
Emporia State has played in 15 one-run games so far this season, and have gone 8-7 in those games, which includes a pair of eight-inning victories, an eight inning and a nine inning loss. They have a 3-3 record in extra inning games. They have gone 4-1 in two run games this season. In the first nine years under Rosales, the Hornets finished .500 or better in one-run games eight times, and ESU won 11 one-run games in 2024, their most in a single season in Rosales' tenure.

IN THE FIELD
Catcher/Designated Player Ally Miller (So./Olathe, KS) is batting .311 in 36 games with 27 starts at catcher and eight at DP this season. She has seven doubles, a triple, a home run, 20 RBI and a .360 on base percentage. 
First baseman Haley Garnett (Gr./Olathe, KS) is in year three with the Hornets and has played in 126 games at Emporia State. In 45 starts this year she is batting .221 with a .323 on base percentage, 14 walks, four doubles, a triple and two home runs.
Second baseman Mallory Moore (Fr./Flower Mound, TX) has started 33 of her 38 games as a true freshman. She is batting .287 including a .324 average with two outs. 
Third baseman Brooke Flewelling (So./Holton, KS) is in year two with the Hornets after playing in 35 games as a freshman. She is hitting .310 with 11 home runs, nine doubles and two triples for a .717 slugging percentage and 1.133 OPS. She has 41 RBI on the year and joined Alexis Dial from last season as the only Hornets since 2014 with 20 or more RBI within the first 20 games of the season.
Shortstop Sydney Wagner (Fr./Buda, TX) has started 45 games for the Hornets in her first season. She is batting .355 with seven doubles, a triple, 25 runs scored and 17 RBI. She is batting .406 with runners on base and .417 with runners in scoring position.
Outfielder Taryn Burkhardt (Jr./Silver Lake, KS) is in her first year with the Hornets after transferring from Johnson County CC. Burkhardt has started all 46 games in center field and is batting .295 with a team-high 36 runs scored and 31 walks drawn. She has a .427 on base percentage overall and a .493 OBP while leading off an inning. Burkhardt is 34 of 39 on stolen bases this year and needs three to tie Morgan Viola (37 of 42 in 2005) for fifth on the Hornets all-time single season list. She had a .411 batting average and stole 68 bases in two seasons at Johnson County CC, twice earning All-Region VI honors.
Outfielder Juliana De Luna (So./San Antonio, TX) played in 30 games as a freshman last season and has started 45 of 46 games this season. She is batting .295 and has reached base at a .378 clip. She has 27 runs scored and 24 RBI this spring.
Outfielder Kinsey Perine (Fr./Rossville, KS) has started all 46 games as a true freshman. She is batting .264 on the season with 18 RBI, 23 runs scored and 15 stolen bases. She is seven for eight in RBI opportunities with a runner on third and less than two outs. Her mother Shanna (Spann) was a starter for the Lady Hornets 1998 national runner up women's basketball team.
Catcher/designated player Leslie Ramos (Jr./Grand Island, NE) is in her first season with the Hornets after transferring from Barton CC. She has played in 35 games with 19 starts at catcher and 11 at DP. She is hitting .269 overall and .318 with runners on base. She hit .356 with a .468 on base percentage and .554 slugging percentage in 85 games for the Cougars.
Infielder/designated player Kennedy Topping (So./Wichita, KS) has played in 25 games with 16 starts this season with eight starts at second base, six at DP, and two at third base. She is batting .320 on the year with a .500 average with two outs.
Infielder Brynley Smith (Fr./Wichita, Kan.) is batting .261 in 13 games with eight starts as a true freshman including three at second base, two at third and two at short stop. She is is two for three in pinch hitting situations.

IN THE CIRCLE
Senior Gracie Rabe (Sr./Rossville, KS) is in her fourth season with the Hornets and has pitched in 456.0 career innings over 105 games with 71 starts for Emporia State. She is 9-10 with a 2.48 ERA, four shutouts and two saves this season. She has struck out 73 while walking just 21 in 124.1 innings.
Senior Jordan Harrison (Sr./St. Mary's, KS) is in year two at Emporia State and after tossing 88.0 innings last season. She is 12-7 with a 3.43 ERA, 108 strikeouts and just 30 walks in 118.1 innings this season.
Senior Jayda VanAckeren (Sr./Omaha, NE) has made 76 appearances over her four years in the circle for the Hornets and has a 22-9 career record. She is 5-3 this season with a shutout and 3.71 ERA.

HORNET HISTORY
Emporia State finished as the NCAA Division II National Runners-up in 2006 and 2008. The Hornets have qualified for NCAA Regional play 13 times. ESU won the NAIA National Championship in 1983 and 1984 and won the AIAW National Championship in 1980.
The Hornets were MIAA regular season champions four straight years from 2005-08 and MIAA Tournament champions seven straight years running from 2004-10. In the 21st Century, Emporia State has claimed the regular season title eight times (2005-08, 2010-12, 2014) and the tournament title nine times (2004-10, 2012, 2018).

30 FOR 30
The Hornets 21-9 record was their best start after 30 games since going 23-7 to start the 2015 season. That team would finish the year 35-20, 16-9 in the MIAA.