Softball | 5/10/2014 8:46:00 PM
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Box Score 2 MSU Box Score in htmlUCO Box Score in htmlMay 10, 2014-The #18 Emporia State softball team stayed alive at the NCAA Central Regional Tournament and in the process eliminated the host school and defending national champions. The Hornets defeated host and 11th ranked Minnesota State 3-2 in the first game and then run ruled Central Oklahoma 13-2 to advance to the championship game.
In the first game the Hornets and Mavericks were locked in a scoreless duel through the first five innings. Emporia State broke through in the fifth when Jacie Stephens worked a one out walk and after a flyout Madison Rich laced a triple off the right field wall to give the Hornets a 1-0 lead. With two outs in the seventh Kaitlyn Caston singled and scored when Andrea Piezuch sent a ball over the fence down the right field line for a 3-0 lead.
Minnesota State got back to back singles to lead off the bottom of the seventh and loaded the bases with one out. Samantha Holien got an RBI single and Lindsay Erickson got a sac fly to cut the lead to 3-2. Caston then got Anna Cole to fly out to secure the win for Emporia State.
Caston again went the distance for her 34th win of the season. She scattered seven hits and gave up three walks in the circle while she went one for three with a run scored at the plate. Piezuch was one for four with the two run home run.
The Hornets jumped out early in the second game as the first six batters reached base. Caston gave Emporia State a 1-0 lead when she executed a squeeze bunt to score Taylor Zordel from third. Piezuch then singled through the right side to score Jessica Gragg. Stephens doubled down the left field line to score two and give the Hornets a 4-0 lead. The Bronchos answered with two runs in the top of the second to cut the lead in half. Rich reached on a error to open the bottom of the second, followed by singles from Goodwin and Zordel to load the bases for Gragg. The junior then blasted a grand slam to left that put the Hornets up 8-0. Caston followed with a solo shot to center for a 9-0 lead. Piezuch reached on a bunt single and went to third on Stephens second double of the game to left. Rich drove both of them in with a double in the gap in left center for an 11-0 advantage. Zordel ended the scoring with a single up the middle that plated Rich. When the final out came Emporia State had sent 13 batters to the plate and scored eight runs on eight hits in the frame on the way to a 12-2 lead. Piezuch gave the Hornets a 13-2 lead when she recorded her fifth consecutive hit with an RBI single in the fourth.
Caston went all 5.0 innings in the run rule win allowing two unearned runs on four hits with a walk and two strikeouts.She now has 35 wins on the season. She went two for three with two runs and two RBI at the plate. Piezuch was four for four with two runs and two RBI while Gragg went two for three with four RBI and three runs scored.
Emporia State will take on Southeastern Oklahoma State for the regional championship on Sunday. First pitch is set for 11:00 a.m. with an if necessary game set for 1:30 p.m. if the Hornets can force a second game.
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