Softball | 5/6/2012 10:14:00 PM
Game one box score
Game two box score
May 6, 2012-The #17 Emporia State softball team forced an extra game by handing second ranked Central Oklahoma their first shut out of the season, 2-0, before falling 8-6 in the South Central Regional2 final.
ESU ends the season 42-11 with five of the losses coming to UCO in Edmond, Okla.
In the first game, Karley Schmelzer tossed a three hit shutout against the second ranked team in the nation in batting average and runs scored. The Hornets took the lead in the fifth when Taylor Zordel singled in pinch runner Alyssa Miller. ESU added an insurance run in the top of the seventh. Zordel reached on an error and came home on Stephanie Goodwin's RBI single.
Schmelzer worked out of two bases loaded jams as she tossed her ninth shut out of the season. She allowed three hits with three walks and struck out four to pick up her 21st win of the year. Zordel was one for three with a run and an RBI.
The 2-0 win set up a winner take all game to go to the Super Regional. Schmelzer had thrown 26.2 innings in the first four games of the regional so Coach Julie LeMaire sent Lauren Sharp into the circle to start the final game. She struck out the first two batters and retired the side in order in the first.
Nathalie Timmermans opened the second with a walk and Megan Whittmire reached on a fielder's choice. Kacie Edwards then pinch hit, despite suffering a torn ACL a week earlier, deposited the first pitch she saw over the fence in right field to give ESU A 2-0 lead. The Bronchos added another run in the inning to go up 3-0 headed to the bottom of the second.
Tricia Vogel led off the bottom of the second with a single and went to third on Amanda Self's double that chased UCO starter Rachel Steverson. Amanda McClelland came on and struckout the first two batters she faced. Kendra Gifford then walked and Zordel was hit by a pitch to score the first run for the Hornets.
Timmermans pushed the UCO lead back to three runs with a solo home run in the top of the third before ESU responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning. Jessica Brewer bunted for a hit and Goodwin hit a home run to center that pulled the Hornets within 4-3. With two outs Taylor Reichard reached on a fielding error and came home on a double by Jennifer Heerey that tied the score.
UCO brought Steverson back to start the fourth and with one out ESU got three straight singles from the top of the order and Vogel gave the Hornets the lead with a sac fly. Self made it 6-4 with an RBI single. The Bronchos cut the lead to 6-5 on an RBI single from Timmermans with two outs in the fifth.
With a 6-5 lead, ESU brought Schmelzer on in relief of Sharp to start the seventh. UCO got a lead off single through the left side, a single to left, and an infield single to load the bases for Edwards. The senior delivered with a two run single down the right field line to give the Bronchos a 7-6 lead. Brittany Weaver singled to give ESU an insurance run and the Hornets were retired in order in the bottom of the seventh to end the season.
Goodwin went two for three with two RBI and a run scored and Brewer was two for four with two runs scored to pace the Hornet offense. Schmelzer took the loss allowing three runs on five hits in one inning. Sharp allowed five runs, four earned, on six hits.
ESU ends the season 42-11with their ninth straight trip to the NCAA Tournament. The Hornets were 20-0 in the MIAA to become the first team to go undefeated in MIAA round robin play and won four straight at the MIAA Tournament. The only senior on the team was pitcher Jennifer Heerey who stepped in to play third base the final three games after Jessica Gragg was injured in her first at bat of the regional.
NOTES:
Goodwin finished the year ranked third on the ESU single season list in batting average at .443 and doubles with 18, and is fourth in slugging percentage at .750.
Amanda Self was also tied for third in single season doubles at ESU with 18.
Tricia Vogel's 58 RBI ranks fifth on the single season list at ESU.
