April 10, 2015-The #15 Emporia State softball team made their artificial turf home debut with a double header sweep of Ft. Hays State on Friday at Turnbull Field in the Trusler Sports Complex. The Hornets won game one 2-1 and took the second game 4-1.
The Hornets used a 5-3 double play on the new turf to end a Tiger rally in the first inning. Emporia State took a 1-0 lead when Sydney Owens reached on a bunt single and came around to score on a single up the middle by Kaitlyn Caston. Ft. Hays State tied the score in the fifth on an RBI single by Erin Elmore, but left the bases loaded when Caston got a called third strike on Samantha Villarreal to end the inning. Owens started another rally in the bottom of the fifth with a bunt single and went to third on Stephanie Goodwin's MIAA record breaking 67th career double. The Hornets used small ball again when Caston laid down a squeeze sacrifice bunt that plated Owens with the winning run.
Caston got the win allowing one run on eight hits with a walk and five strikeouts. She helped her own cause offensively going one for two with both RBI in the game. Owens was two for three with two runs scored.
Emporia State jumped on top early in the night cap as well getting a pair of runs in the bottom of the first. Taylor Zordel led off with a single and promptly stole second before Owens singled her over to third. Zordel would come home to score on a failed pick off attempt when Tiger third baseman Victoria Knittig couldn't handle the throw from Elmore at catcher. Caston then delivered an RBI ground out for a 2-0 lead. Zordel made it 3-0 when she led off the third sending a ball into left field that was misplayed by Rilee Krier that allowed her to go to third before Krier's throw hit inside the third base dugout and sent her home. The Tigers got an unearned run in the fourth but the Hornets answered with a Dani Sprinkle RBI single that scored Brenda Novelo in the bottom of the frame. Eryn Stockman then retired nine of the final ten batters she faced, giving up just a lead off walk in the sixth, as she picked up her 11th win.
Zordel was three for four with two runs scored while Owens went two for four with a run. Caston and Sprinkle had the only two RBI in the second game for the Hornets. Stockman did not allow an earned run while scattering five hits with three walks and four strikeouts.
Emporia State will play their final regular season home games on Saturday against Neb.-Kearney. First pitch of the double header is set for 12 noon at Turnbull Field in the Trusler Sports Complex. The eight Hornet seniors will be recognized in between games.
