April 30, 2015-The Emporia State softball team split their two games on the first night of action at the MIAA Tournament. The sixth seeded Hornets defeated third seeded Central Oklahoma 7-4 and fell to 2-0 to second seeded Pittsburg State.
In the first game the Hornets jumped out to a 1-0 lead on Hannah Weingartner's solo home run in the second inning. The Bronchos answered with two unearned runs in the third inning. Kaitlyn Caston gave the Hornets a 3-2 lead with a two run single in the top of the fourth. Emporia State added two more in the fourth on a Jessica Gragg RBI single and when Jacie Stephens reached on an error. UCO scored another run in the bottom of the fourth to cut the lead to 5-3 before the Hornets got back to back home runs from Gragg and Stephens in the sixth inning to go up 7-3. The Bronchos added a run in the bottom of the seventh for the final score.
Stephanie Goodwin was three for five with a run while Caston went two for three with two RBI and a run scored. Gragg finished two for four with a home run and two RBI. Caston picked up the win scattering seven hits while allowing two earned runs and four runs total.
In the second game Caston and Emmie Robertson locked up in a pitching duel. The Gorillas scored first on a bases loaded walk in the third inning to take a 1-0 lead. They made it 2-0 in the sixth on a solo home run by Kylie Guthier. The Hornets had a runner on third three straight innings and could not score.
Taylor Zordel was two for three as she saw live pitching for the first time since hurting her hand against Central Oklahoma on April 19.
The Hornets will play Missouri Western on Friday morning at 11:00 a.m. in an elimination game.
