April 23, 2015-The #20 Emporia State softball team snapped a four game losing streak, clinched a spot in the MIAA Tournament and saw Stephanie Goodwin break another school record in a double header split at Northwest Missouri. The Hornets won game one 4-3 in nine innings and fell 2-1 in the night cap.
The Hornets were no-hit through the first 3.2 innings of the first game before Dani Sprinkle delivered a two out single in the fourth. Meanwhile the Bearcats had a baserunner in every inning and left the bases loaded in the second but the game remained scoreless heading into the fifth. Kaitlyn Caston led off the top of the fifth with a walk and with one out went to second on a single by Jacie Stephens. Jessica Gragg got the first run on the board with an RBI single to center. Hanna Weingartner walked to lead the bases and then with two outs Goodwin was hit by a pitch to force in a run and give Emporia State a 2-0 lead.
The Bearcats responded with two runs of their own on four hits in the bottom of the fifth and the damage could have been bigger if Gragg hadn't turned a 5-3 double play to end the inning. Northwest Missouri took a 3-2 lead with a run in the bottom of the sixth. In the top of the seventh Stephens led off with a double and Cassidy Berry ran for her. Berry went to third on a ground out before Weingartner tied the game with a sac fly. Caston retired the side in order in the bottom of the seventh and the Hornets went to extra innings for the fifth time this season.
Emporia State had the bases loaded with one out in the top of the eighth but could score a run while Northwest had two on with one out and failed to score. Weingartner delivered a solo home run with one out in the top of the ninth and Caston was able to shut the door in the bottom of the inning as the Hornets improved to 2-3 in extra innings this year.
The Hornets seemed to continue the momentum for the first game into the second when Goodwin led off with a walk. She then scored on Caitlyn VanVleck's double and an error by Torri Blythe at second base. The lead was shortlived as Stephanie Mark hit a two run home with two outs in the bottom of the first to give the Bearcats a 2-1 lead. That would prove to be the only scores of the game as neither pitcher allowed a run the rest of the game. Goodwin did hit her school record 21st double to lead off the sixth but was left stranded while Gragg doubled with two outs in the seventh and the Hornets again failed to get the run home.
Caston pitched all 15.0 innings for the Hornets in the double header, surrendering a total of five runs on 15 hits and stranding 16 Bearcats.
The Hornets are scheduled to wrap up the regular season on Saturday at Missouri Western. First pitch from the Griffon Spring Sports Complex is set for 1:00 p.m.
NOTES
Senior Taylor Zordel, who entered the game leading the MIAA in runs and hits, played exclusively on defense for the fourth straight game after suffering a hand injury when hit by a pitch against Central Oklahoma on April 19.
Goodwin passed Miranda Campbell, who had 20 doubles in 2010, with her 21st double of the season to claim the Hornets single season record
