March 27, 2015-The #1 Emporia State softball team split with Pittsburg State on Friday night at the Trusler Sports Complex. The Hornets won game one 12-4 in six innings before falling 9-2 in the second game.
The Gorillas took the lead with an unearned run in the first inning to take the lead. The Hornets answered with a two run homer from Brenda Novelo in the bottom of the second inning and would take control with a five run third inning. Kaitlyn Caston had the big hit in the inning with a three run home run. Pitt State closed to 7-4 with a three unearned runs in the fourth. Emporia State got five runs in the bottom of the sixth with Jacie Stephens ending the game with a two run single to envoke the run rule.
Caston went the distance in the circle, allowing four unearned runs on three hits with two walks and two strikeouts. She helped herself at the plate going one for three with three RBI and two runs scored while Novelo was two for four with three RBI and two runs.
The night cap saw Pitt State score in the top of the first again, getting two run on three hits. Caitlyn VanVleck answered for Emporia State with a two run homer in the bottom of the first. Both teams went scoreless over the next three innings until the Gorillas pushed across an unearned run in the top of the fifth to take a 3-2 lead. They would then add five runs in the sixth, all with two outs, to go up 8-2 and added an insurance run in the seventh for the final score of 9-2.
All three Hornet pitchers, Eryn Stockman, Kelsee Henry and Caston, gave up three runs each with Stockman getting the loss. VanVleck and Caston were both two for three with VanVleck getting two RBI on her home run.
Emporia State is back in action on Saturday afternoon when they take on Missouri Southern in a double header. First pitch of game one is set for 1:00 p.m.
NOTES
The doubleheader was Chamber Night at the Ballpark sponsored by the Emporia Area Champber of Commerce. As part of the festivities Sluggerrr, the mascot of the American League Champion Kansas City Royals was on hand and interacted with the crowd.
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