After missing NCAA Division II Championship Tournament play last season, the Lady Hornets softball team will look to return the postseason under new leadership.
A long-time member and assistant of the Emporia State softball program, first-year head coach April Huddleston will inherit a young squad. While there is not a single senior on this year’s roster, numerous key contributors return from last year’s 35-20 team.
Two sophomore outfielders will look to build on their impressive freshman campaigns. Caitlin VanVleck, sophomore outfielder, started every game for the Lady Hornets last season and registered a .347 batting average with three doubles, a team-high four triples, a homerun, 20 stolen bases and 21 runs batted in. Danielle Sprinkle, sophomore outfielder, will provide another potent offensive force for Emporia State. Sprinkle was second on last year’s team in on-base percentage and batted .348 with seven doubles and four homeruns in limited action.
Eryn Stockman, junior pitcher, will be the leader of a young Hornet rotation. Stockman had a breakout season last year, recording a 2.34 earned run average in 122.2 innings pitched. Stockman pitched 12 complete games and had the team’s lowest batting average against at .251.
The Lady Hornets will begin the season Feb. 5 at the Southeastern Oklahoma State Tournament in Durant, Oklahoma.
