March 16, 2015-The #20 Emporia State softball team started spring break with a double header split at Newman on Monday. The Hornets lost game one 9-7 on a walk-off homer by the Jets before coming back to post an 8-0 shutout win in game two.
The Jets took a 1-0 lead in the opener with an unearned run in the third inning. The Hornets answered with four runs in the top of the fourth on an RBI single from Jessica Gragg, an RBI double by Danielle Sprinkle and a two run single from Kaitlyn Caston. Gragg then hit a two run homer in the fifth to give Emporia State a 6-1 lead.
Newman got one run back in the fifth before scoring four in the bottom of the sixth.They tied the game on a three run homer from pinch hitter Sara Morales. Brenda Novelo gave the Hornets a 7-6 lead with a solo home run in the top of the seventh. Newman retied the game on a sac fly and with two outs Taylor Schawe hit a two run walk-off homer to break the Hornets nine game winning streak.
Gragg was two for four with three RBI and two runs scored in the matinee. The Hornets used three pitchers in the game with Caston getting the start and giving up one run on three hits with three walks in 3.0+ innings before being replaced by Eryn Stockman with two on in the fourth. Stockman went 3.0+ innings allowing six runs on seven hits. Kelsee Henry came on with a runner on in the seventh and got two outs before giving up the game winning two run homer.
In the nightcap Sprinkle gave the Hornets a 1-0 lead in the second on an RBI single that scored Novelo. Emporia State batted around in the fourth, scoring four runs on five hits. Caitlyn VanVleck provided the big hit with a two run triple down the lieft field line. Goodwin made it 6-0 with an RBI double in the fifth that scored Caston. Sydney Owens led off the ninth and scored two outs later on another Goodwin double and Gragg followed with another RBI double to make it 8-0.
Henry went the distance, picking up her second complete game shutout. She scattered four hits with no walks and three strikeouts as she improved to 4-1 on the season. Goodwin was four for five with three RBI and two runs scored to lead the Hornet offense.
Emporia State is back in action on Tuesday morning when they play host to Southeastern Oklahoma State in a rematch of last year's Central Region-1 championship game. First pitch of the double header is set for 10:00 a.m.
