Mona wins individual championship

Friday the 13th the track team traveled to Wichita to the KT Woodman Classic. Senior distance runner Katie Mona won the 1,500 meter run with her personal best time of 4:31.15, defeating all other runners, including Division I.

Freshman Sara Dunkin provisionally qualified in the javelin for the fourth time in four meets with a throw of 40.83 meters, and freshman distance runner Collin Erbert placed 11th in the 3,000 meter steeplechase.

The meet resumed on Saturday as sophomore jumper/sprinter Donald Wilcox jumped a wind aided 7.44 meters, winning the men’s long jump and provisionally qualifying for nationals. Sophomore hurdles/sprinter Andre Etheridge took third in both hurdle races going 14.15 in the 110 meter hurdles.

ESU will hit the road for Lawrence for the Kansas Relays on April 19-21.

Softball moves to #14

The Lady Hornets defeated the Lindenwood Lions in both games 6-0, 2-0, on Saturday. Emporia took their time to get into the swing of things. Junior pitcher Karley Schmelzer sat down the Lion lineup in the top of the first.

Sophomore infielder/catcher Tricia Vogel had an RBI single in the fifth inning, helping the score to 5-0, and freshman outfielder Stephanie Goodwin went one for two with two runs, a double and an RBI. The second game took longer for the offense to start as the first three innings went scoreless.

Senior Day on Sunday was a memorable one. The Hornets took advantage at the plate and scored off of wild pitching from Lincoln University. ESU took both games in six innings, 10-2, and 9-1.

ESU became the first team in MIAA history to go undefeated in a complete round robin conference season. A league record was also set with 20 MIAA wins as they will be the #1 seed at the MIAA Tournament on April 26-28 in Overland Park at the Blue Valley Recreation Complex.

Jara goes undefeated

Both the men’s and women’s tennis teams were defeated by the nationally-ranked Northwest Missouri Bearcats on Saturday. The women came up short 6-3, while the men lost 8-1. Men’s doubles team freshman Andrew Davids and junior Mat Edwards impressively won their match, and #1 women’s doubles sophomore Nicole Jara and freshman Taylor Smith won their match as well.

ESU took on the Ichabods of Washburn University on Monday, as both teams were defeated again. The women lost 8-1, and the men were beaten 9-0. Jara ended the regular season in dual competition at 18-0, being the first Hornet to go undefeated in the regular season since ESU joined the NCAA.

Last night the women defeated Newman, 5-4, while the men fell 6-3.

Baseball goes 1-3 on weekend

Emporia State baseball took on Missouri Southern last Friday, but fell 8-1. The Hornets got down early, scoring their only point in the top of the fourth inning, which tied the game 1-1. Junior infielder Ashton McCoy had two of the Hornets’ five hits, as he scored the lone run as well. The game was put on hold due to inclement weather.

On Saturday ESU won the resumed game. Freshman pitcher Shawn Talkington earned his second win on the season, as he and senior pitcher Brandon Faulkner combined for three strikeouts and allowed only 10 hits. The Hornets went to victory 9-1.

Emporia fell both games 3-2, and 4-2, during the double-header on Saturday.

ESU will travel to Jefferson City, Mo. to take on Lincoln for a four game series on April 20-22.

Mona and Etheridge place for ESU

The day started out cold and rainy, but the sun came out as Emporia State Track and Field hosted the State Farm ESU Relays on Saturday. Although not every athlete was Division II, the meet allowed 104 provisional marks, including 13 good enough for automatic qualification to the NCAA Division II Championship.

Running a 4:39.28 to win the 1,500 meter run, senior distance runner Katie Mona had the only individual championship for Emporia State. Sophomore sprinter Andrew Etheridge defended his national championship and placed third in the 110 meter hurdles with a time of 14.10.

ESU will host the Combined Open Multis April 12-13 before competing at the KT Woodman Relays on at Wichita State.

Hornets run rule Gorillas

The #20 Emporia State softball team defeated the Gorillas of Pittsburgh State on Saturday. ESU won both games within five innings, capturing two run rule wins.

Many of the girls on the team contributed tremendous efforts and junior center and infielder Amanda Self gave the Hornets the first lead with a two RBI double. ESU hit explosively as MIAA softball student athlete of the week freshman infielder Taylor Zordel got a two run single and stole second base off of a throwing error. ESU won the first game, 11-3.

The Hornets trailed in the second game, but freshman outfielder Stephanie Goodwin achieved a three run homer to give Emporia the lead as the Hornets won the second game, 12-4.

ESU will play at 3 p.m. today, hosting St. Mary’s of Texas in a non-conference game at the Trusler Sports Complex.

Baseballs falls to Griffons

Emporia State baseball hosted Missouri Western Tuesday and came up short both games.

During the first game, senior pitcher Brandon Faulkner allowed no points on the board until the fourth inning. Despite a four run seventh inning for the Hornets, the Griffons took control of the game and won 5-4 in extra innings.

The Griffons got a quick lead in the second game with a run in the first inning. ESU took the lead in the second after a two run RBI by senior outfielder Dorain Williams. In the third inning, Missouri Western took off and ended the game with a 6-2 win.

The Hornets face Missouri Southern at 6 p.m. in Joplin, Mo.

Hornet men 2-2 against Bearcats

The 16th-ranked Emporia State baseball team faced the Bearcats of Northwest Missouri at home on Friday. Junior infielder Aston McCoy hit a home run to help the Hornets get a victory of 8-3 in the first game. Senior catcher Rudy Weiser had a runs-batted-in and was two for three, scoring two runs to help the team.

In the second game, the Hornets got down early to the Bearcats but fought back to take the win 9-6. The Hornets have homered in three straight games, and senior infielder and pitcher Joe Kornbrust is now on an 11 game hitting streak.

On Saturday the Hornets faced the Bearcats again, splitting the series. Senior outfielder Beau Poston hit a grand slam along with Kornburst to help the Hornets get the first win of the day, 16-3. Every starter finished with either a run scored or an RBI, but the Hornets took a loss in the second game 6-10.

The Hornets will play the Gorillas of Pittsburgh State, March 16-18, at Glennen Field in the Trusler Sports Complex.

Women 4-0 to start season

The Lady Hornets softball team came from behind on Friday to sweep the Mules of Central Missouri. In the first game of the double-header, sophomore infielder and catcher Tricia Vogel got the first scored run with a leadoff homer in the second inning, as the girls would end up on top, 5-2.

In the second game, the Hornets got down early until freshman outfielder Stephanie Goodwin achieved a two run double in the fifth inning, helping accomplish the Hornet victory, 7-6.

On Saturday the girls faced the Southwest Baptist Bearcats winning the double-header. In the first game, the Hornets accomplished an 11-0 win. Junior pitcher Karley Schmelzer threw a non-hitter as she struck out nine players.

In the second game the Hornets pulled to an early lead as freshman catcher infielder Jessica Gragg earned her first home run of the season to help in the 7-3 victory over the Bearcats.

The ladies will be at home on March 16 for the first time this season against Truman at 1 p.m. on Turnbull Field in the Trusler Sports Complex.

Tennis in action on the courts

The Lady Hornets tennis team came out strong on March 7 as they took on Bethel College, winning 8-1, and Tabor College with a 9-0 win. On Saturday, the ladies took a 9-0 sweep against Southwestern College.

The men’s tennis team attained two victories on March 7 as well. They played Bethel College and Tabor College, beating both teams 8-1. They took Southwestern College on Saturday and demolished the Moundbuilders.

Both the men and women defeated Kansas Wesleayan, 8-1 yesterday. The Lady Hornets are now 10-1 on the season, as the men are now 6-2 on the year.

The Lady Hornets take on Ft. Hays State on Friday, before both teams take action against Southwest Baptist in the MIAA opener on Saturday. The duals on Saturday will begin at 1 p.m. at the Emporia High School Courts.

Women 2nd at MIAA tournament

The Lady Hornets started the first round MIAA tournament last Thursday, opening against the Bulldogs of Truman State. Junior guard Kelsey Balcom drained a three-pointer with less than 1 second left in the second half, earning the Hornets a 64-63 victory.

On Saturday, the Hornets faced the Blue Tigers of Lincoln in the second round of the tournament. ESU won, 68-60, to advance to the championship game against the Washburn University Ichabods on Sunday in the third Turnpike Tussle for the title in last eight years. Emporia lost, a devastating 68-59 as the final score.

But during the NCAA Selection Show, ESU learned that they made it into the NCAA tournament for the 14th time in the last 16 years. The Hornets will face Tarleton State University at 8 p.m. tomorrow in Topeka.

End of road for basketball men

The Hornets men’s basketball team ended their season 9-18 after being in the MIAA Tournament for the 10th straight year.

On Friday, Emporia fell to the Washburn University Ichabods, 67-51, in the first round of the tournament. The game started out close, but with 12 turnovers in the second half, ESU  reached the end of the road for the season.

Junior guard Taylor Euler led the team with 12 points and was joined in double figures by senior center and forward Christian Simmons, with a career high 11 points.

This was the last season for four seniors – Tola Lawal, Troy Pierce, Antonio DiMaria and Simmons. The Hornets will return with three of their top six scorers for the next season.

Baseball 2-2 against Bearcats

The 8th-ranked Emporia State baseball team took on the Bearcats of Southwest Baptist University on Friday. ESU swept the double header, 9-2 and 10-4.

Senior infielder and outfielder Joe Vaskas went two for three and added three runs driven in as junior infielder Eric Dawson continued his hot streak as he went three for four with two runs scored and one driven.

On Saturday, ESU played close games but came up short in a double header loss, 1-2 and 8-9. Dawson hit his first career home run going two for four on the day. Junior pitcher Keith Picht picked up his first two losses of the season that day.

The Hornets will face Northwest Missouri March 9-11 at Glennen Field in the Trusler Sports Complex.

Hornet tennis back in action, men fall short         

The Lady Hornet tennis team swept the boards against the McPherson Bulldogs on Saturday. Coming out strong, ESU gave McPherson no chance as they dominated the courts, 9-0, winning three matches by forfeit.

On Monday the ladies were defeated by the Hawks of Rockhurst University, 2-7. Sophomore singles player Nicole Jara gave ESU one win, while sophomore singles player Abby Morris contributed the other win for the Hornets.

Being 2-2 on the season, the Hornet men’s tennis team fell short in the first two home duals of the season.

McPherson challenged ESU on Satruday, as the Hornets fell 1-8. On Monday the Hornets faced the Rockurst University Hawks as ESU was defeated 0-9.

Mona dominates, sets mile record

Katie Mona broke her second school record of the season for ESU on Saturday at the Iowa State Classic. She ran 4:48.55 to finish fifth in the seeded mile run and automatically qualified for the NCAA championships. She broke Jonel Rossbach’s 2007 record of 4:50.65 in 2007.

Briar Ploude hit a provisional qualifying mark of 6-08.25 (2.04 meters) in the high jump.  He placed sixth in the seeded high jump, but broke a three meet string of clearing 7 feet. ESU will split their squads next weekend, sending some to the Nebraska Tune-Up and some to the KSU Open.

Softball wins in San Antonio

Kendra Gifford went two for three with three runs, three RBI and two home runs to lead Emporia State to a 7-4 win over Incarnate Word on Sunday afternoon in San Antonio, Texas.

Jennifer Heerey and Taylor Zordel both joined Gifford with two hits. Taylor Zordel and Amanda Self each had a double. Heerey struck out nine while giving up four runs on 10 hits to improve to 2-0 on the year.

ESU will be back in action this weekend when they travel to Durant, Okla. for the Southeastern Shootout hosted by Southeastern Oklahoma State on Feb. 17-19.

Track has strong showing at Scottie Classic

Gannon Mack hit a provisional mark to lead the Hornets at the Scottie Classic hosted by Highland Community College on Saturday. Mack was one of three Hornets to pick up individual championships for Emporia State, running 7.51 to win the 55 meter hurdles and solidifying his provisional mark. The time ranks 13th in the nation and third in the MIAA.

Val Jordan won the other individual championship for ESU with a mark of 41-02.50 (12.56 meters) in the women’s shot put.

Lucas San Martin finished second in the weight throw. His throw of 51-05.00 (15.67 meters) moved him to seventh in the MIAA.

Track athletes qualify for NCAA championships

Katie Mona turned in the second best time in the nation this season in the 800 meter when she ran a lightning 2:10.75. Andrew Etheridge broke eight seconds to win the 60 meter hurdles consolation finals. His time of 7.96 is an automatic qualifier and ranks fifth in the nation. Gannon Mack also turned in a provisional qualifier, running 8.16 to place fourth in the 60 meter hurdles consolation finals.

Cody Miller moved into third in the MIAA with a time of 1:57.33 to finish 17th overall. Dwayne Wall moved up to fourth in the MIAA rankings in the triple jump. His mark of 46-10.25 (14.28 meter) was good enough for eighth in the competition in Nebraska.

Women basketball beat #10 Northeastern State

In a battle of top 25 teams, 22-ranked Emporia State defeated 10-ranked Northeastern State, 52-42, on Saturday afternoon in White Auditorium. The win moves the Lady Hornets to 7-4 against top 10 teams in White Auditorium all-time.

Heather Robben led all scorers with 16 points while Kelsey Balcom added a double-double with 10 points and a career high 12 rebounds. Sarah Wood pulled down a career high nine rebounds. ESU out-rebounded NSU 51-26 on the night.

Softball picked second in MIAA preseason poll

The defending MIAA regular season champion Emporia State softball team has been tabbed for second in the 2012 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll. The Hornets have won either the MIAA regular season or post season tournament championship in each of the last eight seasons.    ESU returns five players from last year’s 42-16 team that earned All-MIAA status. Jessica Brewer was a first-team selection, Amanda Self, Karley Schmelzer and Taylor Reichard all earned second team honors, and Jennifer Heerey was an honorable mention pick.