April 25, 2015-The #20 Emporia State softball team got solid pitching and timely hitting in a double header sweep of Missouri Western on Saturday in St. Joseph, Mo. The Hornets won the first game 2-1 and took a 5-1 victory in game two.
Dani Sprinkle gave the Hornets a 2-0 lead in the top of the first when she hit a two run homer that plated Caitlin VanVleck who had walked. Two walks a single and a fielder's choice allowed the Griffons to cut the lead in half in the bottom of the first. Emporia State would get a runner on base in every inning except the third but would not score another run. Kaitlyn Caston meanwhile held Missouri Western to just three hits after the first inning as the Hornets took a 2-1 victory.
Sprinkle was two for four with a home run, two RBI and a run scored. Caston went the distance allowing one run on four hits with three strikeouts and two walks.
The good pitching continued as both teams were scoreless through the first four innings in the nightcap. With two outs in the fifth Stephanie Goodwin reached on an error by the shortstop. She was followed by back to back to back singles from VanVleck, Sprinkle and Caston with the last two driving in a run each. Sprinkle would come home on a wild pitch to give the Hornets a 3-0 lead. Sprinkle reached on a two out double in the top of the seventh and scored on a home run by Caston. The Griffons broke up the shutout with an unearned run in the seventh before Caston ended th game with a strikeout.
Caston was two for four with a home run, three RBI and a run scored and picked up the win in the circle, allowing just one run on seven hits with six strikeouts and no walks.
The Hornets will start play in the MIAA Tournament on Thursday, April 20 at 6:00 p.m. at the Blue Valley Recreation Complex in Overland Park, Kan. With more games on Sunday around the league, their opponent is yet to be determined.
NOTES
Goodwin hit her 70th career double in the first game and moved up to 13th all-time in NCAA Division II.
