April 6, 2015-The #9 Emporia State softball team ended their four game road trip with a split at Southwest Baptist on Monday afternoon in Bolivar, Mo. The Hornets won the first game 3-0 and gave up three runs in the bottom of the seventh to fall 4-3 in the second game.
The Hornets got an unearned run in the second inning of the matinee when Kaitlyn Caston hit a one out single and scored on an error by the Bearcats second baseman on Dani Sprinkle's single. Taylor Zordel led off the fifth with a single and scored on Stephanie Goodwin's MIAA record tying 66th career double. Caston then singled in Goodwin for a 3-0 lead. That was more than enough offense as Caston tossed a two hit shutout for her 11th win of the year. She helped her own cause going three for three with an RBI.
In the night cap the Hornets stranded 11 runners and could only score three runs on five hits with five walks and four Bearcat errors. Southwest Baptist scored first getting a run in the bottom of the first on a pair of singles. Emporia State would leave the bases loaded in the third before finally breaking through in the sixth. Jessica Gragg led off with a single and went to second on a sacrifice by Sprinkle. A single by Caston put runners at second and third for Brenda Novelo who reached on an error by the right fielder that allowed Gragg to score. Two ground outs would end the threat for the innings.
Eryn Stockman had allowed just the first inning run through 6.0 innings on three hits and the Hornets gave her the lead with two runs in the top of the seventh. With two outs Goodwin worked a walk, Gragg singled and Sprinkle reached on an error by the second baseman to load the bases. Caston reached on an error by the third baseman that scored Goodwin with the go ahead run. Novelo walked to make it 3-1 before Jacie Stephens lined out to short to end the inning. SBU opened the bottom of the seventh with a one out single up the middle and a bunt single before a Stockman walk loaded the bases. Kelsee Henry came on in relief and issued a walk that made it 3-2. Caston relieved Henry and gave up another walk to tie the game. She got an infield fly for the second out and then Catlin Evans followed with a walk off RBI single for the Bearcats.
Stockman took the loss allowing four runs on five hits with five walks and four strikeouts. Gragg was two for four with two runs scored.
Emporia State will return to action on Friday, April 10 against Ft. Hays State in the first game on the new turf at Turnbull Field in the Trusler Sports Complex. First pitch of the double header is set for 5:00 p.m. with pregame festivities to dedicate the new field beginning at 4:45 p.m.
