February 14, 2016-In what turned out to be the final day of the 8-State Classic in Bentonville, Ark., the Hornet softball team came away with another split of two games. Emporia State fell 8-7 to Arkansas Tech in their first game before getting a 5-2 win over East Central (Okla.) in the night cap.
ATU GAME RECAP
Emporia State gave up six runs in the first inning, three of the unearned, trailed 8-0 after two innings had to try and battle back in the day's opening action against Arkansas Tech. The Hornets did chip away at the lead, getting two runs in the third and fourth inning to cut the lead in half. Another run in the fifth made it 8-5and the first three runners reached base in the top of the seventh, putting the tying run on base before three straight ground outs ended the inning.
Caitlin VanVleck went three for five with two runs and two RBI. The bottom three of the lineup - Marly Carmona, Jacie Stephens and Morgan Swisher - all picked up two hits with Carmona and Swisher each scoring two runs.
Holly Hinkle went the distance allowing eight runs, five of them earned, on 12 hits.
ECU GAME RECAP
The Hornets got out in front early against East Central in game two. VanVleck had an RBI single to start the scoring in the third and would eventually score on Erica Harper's three run homer that gave Emporia State a 4-0 lead. The Tigers got one run back in the top of the fourth, only to see Stephens hit a lead off home run in the bottom of the frame to push the lead back to four runs. ECU added a run in the top fo the seventh and had the bases loaded but Eryn Stockman was able to get a ground ball to short to end the game.
Harper finished the game one for three with three RBI on the home run. VanVleck was one for three with an RBI and run scored while Stephens went one for three with the solo homer.
Stockman went the distance in the circle allowing only two runs on 12 hits with three strikeouts. She was able to leave Tiger runners on third base in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings.
UP NEXT
Sunday's play in Bentonville has been cancelled due to the threat of inclement weather. The next action for Emporia State will be next weekend at the St. Cloud Indoor Tournament in St. Cloud, Minn.
