Softball | 5/9/2014 5:51:00 PM
Box Score Box score in htmlMay 9, 2014-Emporia State battled back from a four run deficit in the seventh to force extra innings, but could not come through again as the Hornets fell 7-5 to Central Oklahoma in nine innings at the NCAA Central Regional Tournament in Mankato, Minn.
Both teams got out of scoring opportunities early, combining to leave eight runners on base through the first three innings. The Bronchos broke the scoreless string in the fourth with four runs, two of them unearned. Kalynn Schrock led off with a double and after a walk and a sacrifice Tori Collett doubled in two runs. After a pop up it looked like the Hornets would get out of the inning but a throwing error allowed Kaylee Brunson to reach base and Collett to score. A single from Ally Dziadula plated Brunson for a 4-0 Broncho lead.
The Hornets would go to the bottom of the seventh trailing 4-0 and promptly got two outs. Back to back singles by Stephanie Goodwin and Taylor Zordel, followed by Jessica Gragg getting hit by a pitch loaded the bases. Kaitlyn Caston then delivered a bases clearing double to pull the Hornets within 4-3. Andrea Piezuch followed with a game tying single that scored Caston and the Hornets went to extra innings for the 11th time in NCAA Tournament play.
Central Oklahoma got back to back singles to open the eighth. With Brunson trying to sacrifice, Gragg got the lead runner at third for the first out. Dziadula reached on another error to load the bases before Ashton Smith grounded into a force out to leave the bases loaded. Jacie Stephens was hit by a pitch to lead off the Emporia State half of the eighth. Pinch runner Hannah Weingartner went to second on a wild pitch and to third on a ground out. With two outs Goodwin was intentionally walked to put runners on first and third. Zordel's ground ball couldn't get past the shortstop and the game went to the ninth.
Back to back singles and a walk loaded the bases in the top of the ninth for the Bronchos. Collett delivered a three run double to give Central Oklahoma a 7-4 lead going to the bottom of the ninth. Caston led off the inning with a blast to left field to pull Emporia State to within 7-5 with one out. With two outs Tricia Vogel kept the inning alive with a single to center. Stephens then walked and Brenda Novello singled to right to load the bases. Madison Rich then knocked a grounder to short that Hannah Justus made a diving stop on and scooped the ball to second for the force out and send the Hornets to the loser's bracket.
Caston was two for five with four RBI and two runs scored at the plate. She went the distance in the circle, allowing seven runs on 14 hits with two strikeouts. Goodwin and Gragg each went two for four with a run scored while Piezuch was two for five with a run scored.
The Hornets will play Minnesota State-Mankato in an elimination game on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. The host Mavericks fell 5-3 to Southeastern Oklahoma State in the other first round game.
NOTES
Emporia State is now 6-5 all-time in NCAA extra inning games.
Emporia State and Central Oklahoma have now split two extra inning games, with the Hornets winning 4-3 in nine innings in the 2006 World Series.
