March 17, 2015-The #20 Emporia State softball team celebrated St. Patrick's Day with a double header sweep of Southeastern Oklahoma State on Tuesday at the Trusler Sports Complex. The Hornets won both games by run rule, 8-0 in the first game and 11-1 in the second game.
Kaitlyn Caston took a day off from the circle and gave the Hornets an early 2-0 lead with a home run to left field in the second inning. Emporia State added three more runs in the third on an RBI double from Stephanie Goodwin, a wild pitch that scored Jessica Gragg and an RBI single from Brenda Novelo. In the fourth inning the Hornets got the three runs they needed to set up the run rule. Goodwin had an RBI ground out and then Gragg hit a two run double to make it 8-0.
Eryn Stockman tossed a four hit shut out, allowing four singles with four strike outs and no walks. Goodwin, Gragg and Caston all had two RBI in the matinee.
The Savage Storm actually took the lead in the top of the first in the night cap. The Hornets answered in the bottom of the first when Dani Sprinkle was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. That would be the only run in the opening inning, but Emporia State came back in the second to score five runs on a two run double by Taylor Zordel and a three run homer by Goodwin. The Hornets would add a pair of unearned runs in the third and three more unearned runs in the fourth to go ahead 11-1.
Kelsee Henry went the distance in the circle allowing one run on seven hits with five strikeouts and no walks. Goodwin was four for four with three RBI and a run scored while Caitlyn VanVleck was two for four officially, although she reached base all four times thanks to a pair of Savage Storm errors, and scored three runs.
The Hornets will travel to St. Joseph, Mo. this weekend to play six games in the MIAA-NSIC Crossover.
