Softball | 3/21/2014 5:06:00 PM
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March 21, 2014-The #12 Emporia State softball team split their first two games at the MWSU Invite in St. Joseph, Mo. on Friday. The Hornets defeated St. Cloud State 5-2 in the first game and gave up three unearned runs in a 3-2 loss to Pittsburg State in their second game.
Emporia State pounded out eight hits in the opener against the Huskies. Eryn Stockman helped herself out with a solo homer in the second inning for a 1-0 lead. Jessica Gragg delivered the big blow with a bases loaded double in the fifth that cleared the bases and gave the Hornets a 4-0 lead. St. Cloud State got on the board with a single run in the bottom of the fifth, but Taylor Zordel answered with an RBI single in the top of the sixth to put the back to four runs. The Huskies added a single run in the bottom of the seventh but Stephanie Goodwin gunned down Tricia DeBoer as she rounded second to far on a single to right to end the game.
Zordel was three for four with a run and an RBI while Jaycee Stephens also went three for four. Gragg was one for four with three RBI on a double. Stockman was one for three with a home run and went the distance in the circle, giving up two runs on seven hits.
Pittsburg State was the beneficiary of two Emporia State errors that led to three unearned runs in the second game of the day. Brenna George reached on an error to open the Gorillas half of the first and came around to score to give Pitt State a 1-0 lead. Kaitlyn Caston gave herself a 2-1 lead in the top of the second with a two run homer. Cheslyn Mitchell led off the Pitt State fourth with a single and with two outs scored when George reached on a three base throwing error to tie the score. George came home on Bailey Letts single for the game winner.
Emporia State got single hits from Zordel, Gragg, Andrea Piezuch, Caston and Stephens but only had two hits in the same inning in the second when Caston hit her home run. Caston took the loss despite not allowing an earned run, giving up three runs on five hits with two walks and two strikeouts.
Emporia State is back in action on Saturday against #5 Augustana at 10:00 a.m. and Minnesota State-Mankato at 4:00 p.m. in St. Joseph, Mo.
