We Meet Again: Emporia State Takes On Central Oklahoma in MIAA Softball Tourney

Softball | 5/1/2025 12:50:00 AM

Emporia State (31-22, 10-14 MIAA) vs #4 Central Oklahoma (43-8, 20-4 MIAA)
MIAA Tournament Quarterfinal
Thursday, May 1 | 11:00 a.m.
Hays, Kan. | Fleharty Family Field
Overall: UCO leads 41-28  Last Meeting: UCO 11, at ESU 6 (4/4/25)
Radio: None Internet Audio: None Video: The MIAA Network
Live Stats | Ticket Info | Complete Notes in pdf
Up Next: winner vs MSSU or UCM
Friday, May 2 | 12:00 p.m.
Hays, Kan. | Fleharty Family Field

MEMORABLE MAY MATCHUPS 
Emporia State and #4 Central Oklahoma will meet for the second straight season in the MIAA Tournament and the tenth time overall. They have met twice in the tournament championship game with the Bronchos winning in 2017 and the Hornets winning in 2018

LAST TIME OUT
Emporia State used a five run third inning to take control in a 7-1 victory over Fort Hays State in the opening round.
In the third inning Brooke Flewelling worked a walk to drive in the first run before  Ally Miller delivered the big hit of the game with a double to left center that cleared the bases and gave the Hornets a 4-0 lead.  Juliana De Luna then singled in Miller to push the lead to 5-0. Harrison followed with a shut down inning in the top of the fourth for Emporia State.
The Hornets added two runs in the fifth inning with a two RBI pinch hit single from Avery Brewer that gave Emporia State a 7-0 lead.  Fort Hays State would get on the board in the top of the seventh thanks to a lead off triple by Lilly Mohr and a sac fly by Lexi Mohr.
Ally Miller went two for three with a double, three RBI and a run scored while Brooke Flewelling was one for two with a walk, an RBI and two runs scored. Jordan Harrison worked 5.0 shutout innings fiving up three hits and a walk with two strikeouts.

ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 31-22, 10-14 in the MIAA and the #8 seed in the tournament. They are 19-3 against teams currently under .500 on the season. 
The Hornets are second in the MIAA and 18th in the nation with 113 total stolen bases. Taryn Burkhardt is second in the association and 11th nationally in stolen bases and fourth in the MIAA in walks drawn. Brooke Flewelling is fifth in the MIAA in slugging percentage, sixth in home runs, eighth in OPS and tenth in RBI. Kinsey Perine is sixth in the conference in stolen bases.
In the circle, the Hornets are fifth in the MIAA in strikeout to walk ratio and are led by a trio of seniors. Gracie Rabe is second in  the MIAA in appearances and walks allowed per seven innings,  is fifth in WHIP, sixth in shutouts and strikeout to walk ratio. Jordan Harrison is fourth in the league strikeout to walk ratio, fourth in appearances, fifth in complete games and innings pitched, and eighth in strikeouts. 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 .960 to rank tenth in the MIAA. Juliana De Luna was named an MIAA Gold Glove winner in the outfield with a 1.000 fielding percentage and four assists.

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 270-244. 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. She is 13-10 in the MIAA Tournament.
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 2-21 against Central Oklahoma.
Cody White is 489-168 in his 12th season at Central Oklahoma. He is 25-7 against Emporia State.

SCOUTING THE BRONCHOS
Central Oklahoma is 43-8 overall, 20-4 in the MIAA, ranked #4 in the NFCA National Poll, second in the NCAA Central Region and are the top seed in the tourney. They have won 16 of their last 18 games. They have a .330 team batting average to rank second in the MIAA and have scored a league high 382 runs. Terin Ritz was the MIAA Player of the Year for the second straight season while batting .414 with 15 home runs and 64 RBI. She is also 15-3 in the circle with a 1.78 ERA. As a staff they have a 2.22 ERA to rank second in the Association and have tossed an MIAA high 17 shutouts. The Bronchos have a league best .979 fielding percentage while outfielder Rylee Lemos was named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year.

SERIES HISTORY
The Bronchos lead the all-time series 41-28 and have won ten straight in the series. This is the tenth MIAA Tournament meeting between the two programs with UCO leading 5-4. The two have met six times in NCAA Tournament play with each team winning three games.  The Hornets won 4-3 in the 2006 World Series in Salem, Va. before the Bronchos took two of three in Edmond, Okla. during the 2012 Regional and the split two games in the 2014 Regional in Mankato, Minn. with ESU eliminating UCO 13-2 in five innings to advance to the regional title game.

LAST AT BAT WITH CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
The Hornets led early but the #6 Bronchos scored nine runs in the final three innings to take an 11-6 in the nightcap.
Emporia State took a 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI single by Ally Miller that scored Juliana De Luna. Brynley Smith hit her first career home run in the second to give the Hornets a 2-0 lead.
Central Oklahoma tied the game in the third on an RBI ground out from Kennedy Clark followed by a RBI double from Terin Ritz. Emporia State answered immediately when Taryn Burkhardt led off the bottom of the inning with a single, stole second and scored on a single by De Luna.  The Bronchos brought on Jordyn Pipkin in relief and she promptly walked Sydney Wagner. With two outs the Hornets attempted a double steal and De Luna was able to come home when the throw at third sent into the outfield.
Emporia State held the lead until the top of the fifth when Ritz hit a three run homer to put UCO up 5-4. The Bronchos went up 7-4 in the top of the sixth when Brooklyn Ryan led off with a triple and Rylee Anglen reached on an infield single before Lemos singled to center allowing two runs to score. 
In the bottom of the sixth Kinsey Perine reached when the first baseman dropped a throw and then came home on pinch hitter Avery Brewer's double to left center.  After a ground out moved pinch runner Kylie Chester to third, De Luna hit a sac fly to pull the Hornets within 7-6 going to the seventh inning.
The Bronchos took advantage of fielding and mental errors to add to their lead. With one out Maci Andrews singled and Brooklyn Ryan reached on a error at short stop.  Anglen then laid down a bunt but no one covered first to load the bases. VanAckeren got Lemos to ground to second and Smith's throw appeared to beat the Andrews but it was ruled that Ramos was not touching the plate to give UCO an insurance run.  Makenzie Fithian followed with a double to center field that scored two and gave the Bronchos a 10-6 lead.  Gracie Rabe then relieved VanAckeren and got a ground out that allowed another run to score before getting another ground out to end the inning.
Juliana De Luna went two for three with two runs and two RBI while Ally Miller was two for four,  Brenley Smith had a solo home run and Avery Brewer was one for one with an RBI as a pinch hitter.  Harrison allowed seven runs on nine hits in 5.0 innings in the loss.  

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 113 of 131 on the base paths, with their 113 total steals ranking second in the MIAA and 18th in the nation. Four players have at least ten stolen bases led by Taryn Burkhardt with 40 steals on the season. Burkhardt needs two steals to tie Abbey Hughes (42 in 2011) for second on the Emporia State single season list and five to tie Jessie Wiard's school record of 45 set in 2008.

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. Emporia State will play 42 of their 52 regular season games away from Trusler this year.

HEART STOPPING HORNETS
Emporia State has played in 17 one-run games so far this season, and have gone 9-8 in those games, which includes a pair of eight-inning victories, an eight inning and a nine inning loss. They have a 4-3 record in extra inning games. They have gone 6-1 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.

REGIONAL RANKINGS
The MIAA has five of the top nine teams in this week's NCAA Central Regional Ranking. 

HORNET HISTORY
Emporia State has qualified for NCAA Regional play 13 times and finished as the NCAA Division II National Runners-up in 2006 and 2008. 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
Emporia State has won 30 games for the third straight season for the first time since winning at least 30 in 13 straight seasons from 2003-16.
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. 

BLACK JACK
The Hornets have four players with exactly 21 RBI entering the MIAA Quarterfinals. 

IN THE CIRCLE
Gracie Rabe (Sr./Rossville, KS) is in her fourth season with the Hornets and has pitched in 468.0 career innings over 110 games with 73 starts for Emporia State. She is 10-11 with a 2.62 ERA, four shutouts, three saves and 79 strikeouts while walking just 24 in 136.1 innings.
Jordan Harrison (Sr./St. Mary's, KS) is in year two at Emporia State after tossing 88.0 innings last season. She is 16-7 with a 2.98 ERA, 119 strikeouts and just 36 walks in 143.1 innings this year. She is fifth in the MIAA in wins and fourth in innings pitched. Her 16 wins are the most by a Lady Hornet since Eryn Stockman went 24-14 in 2017.
Jayda VanAckeren (Sr./Omaha, NE) has made 79 appearances over her four years in the circle for the Hornets and has a 22-10 career record. She is 5-4 this season with a shutout and 3.86 ERA.

IN THE FIELD
Catcher/Designated Player Ally Miller (So./Olathe, KS) is batting .310 in 41 games with 31 starts at catcher and eight at DP this season. She has eight doubles, a triple, a home run, 24 RBI and a .355 on base percentage on the season. 
First baseman Haley Garnett (Gr./Olathe, KS) is in year three with the Hornets and has played in 133 games at Emporia State. In 52 starts this year she is batting .233 with a .329 on base percentage, 16 walks, seven doubles, a triple and two home runs. 
Second baseman Mallory Moore (Fr./Flower Mound, TX) has started 40 of her 45 games as a true freshman. She is batting .294 including a .326 average with two outs on the season.  
Third baseman Brooke Flewelling (So./Holton, KS) was an Honorable Mention All-MIAA performer. She is in year two with the Hornets after playing in 35 games as a freshman. She is hitting .308 with 11 home runs, ten doubles and three triples for a .685 slugging percentage and 1.106 OPS. She has 43 RBI on the year and needs two homers to tie Hannah Steeby for sixth on the ESU single season list.
Shortstop Sydney Wagner (Fr./Buda, TX) is an Honorable Mention All-MIAA pick this year. She has started 52 games for the Hornets in her first season. She is batting .361 with ten doubles, a triple, 30 runs scored and 21 RBI. She is batting .407 with runners in scoring position.
Outfielder Taryn Burkhardt (Jr./Silver Lake, KS) was named Honorable Mention All-MIAA after transferring to ESU from Johnson County CC. Burkhardt has started all 53 games in center field and is batting .304 with a team-high 41 runs scored and 31 walks drawn. She has a .421 on base percentage overall and a .479 OBP while leading off an inning. Burkhardt is 40 of 46 on stolen bases this year to rank third 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 52 of her 53 games this season. She earned an MIAA Gold Glove after finishing the regular season with a 1.000 fielding percentage and four outfield assists. She is batting .276 and has reached base at a .365 clip. She has 28 runs scored and 26 RBI this spring.
Outfielder Kinsey Perine (Fr./Rossville, KS) has started all 53 games as a freshman. She is batting .287 with 21 RBI, 26 runs scored and 20 stolen bases. Her mother Shanna (Spann) was a starter for the Lady Hornets 1998 national runner up basketball team.
Utility player Kennedy Topping (So./Wichita, KS) has played in 29 games with 20 starts this season with ten starts at DP, eight at second base and two at third base. She is batting .310 on the year with a .471 average with two outs.
Catcher Leslie Ramos (Jr./Grand Island, NE) transferred from Barton CC. She has played in 38 games with 22 starts at catcher and 11 at DP. She is hitting .279 overall and ..333 over her last ten games. She hit .356 with a .468 on base percentage and .554 slugging percentage in 85 games for the Cougars.
Infielder Brynley Smith (Fr./Wichita, Kan.) is batting .261 in 13 games with eight starts as a freshman including three at second base, two at third and two at short stop. 
Designated Player Avery Brewer (So./Jenks, Okla.) is batting .257 on the season and is hitting .500 as a pinch hitter.