Former Emporia State catcher Jacie Stephens Cochran passed away on July 2 due to complications from childbirth.
Stephens Cochran was a 2017 graduate of Emporia State, and played in 217 games for the Hornets’ softball team during her tenure with the program. She was a second-team all-conference selection as a senior, and earned all-conference honorable mention honors as a sophomore.
After graduation, Stephens Cochran married former ESU football assistant Cale Cochran. She gave birth to thier son, Jaxon Jay, before passing away on Thursday.
In a statement released by the school, head softball coach April Rosales said, “”Jacie was the type of person that walks in to your life and never walks out because of the imprint she leaves. She was passionate, driven, competitive, a proud Oklahoman and she was a proud Hornet. Her best days came after she hung up the cleats and became a wife and expectant mother. The glow she had from the first time we received the news was like none other. Her spirit will live on in her newborn son, Jaxon Jay, and we know Cale will continually tell him what a great ball player, and better person, his momma was. Our deepest sympathies and prayers go out to Cale, Jaxon, her parents and family, and the Cochran family. Please find comfort in knowing just how many lives Jacie touched in her short time on this earth. Hornet Nation is better for having known her.”
A GoFundMe campaign has been created to assist Stephens Cochran’s family during the difficult time; you can find the fundraiser here.
