February 19, 2016-Emporia State earned a pair of come from behind, one run wins on Friday night at the Kelly Laas Indoor Invitational in St. Cloud, Minn. The Hornets defeated Minnesota State-Mankato 4-3 in their first game and took out Southwest Minnesota State 8-7 in eight innings in the night cap.
HORNETS AND MAVERICKS
Minnesota State scored two runs in the first to take an early lead in the first game of the evening. Emporia State responded with three runs in the third to take the lead for good. Caitlin VanVleck had a two run double to score Morgan Swisher and Katie Yoakum. After VanVleck stole third, Sarah Glass delivered a sac fly to give the Hornets a 3-2 lead. Emporia State added an insurance run in the sixth when Cassidy Berry drove in pinch runner Carlie McCombs to make it 4-2. The Mavericks added an unearned run and had the tying run on second in the bottom of the seventh before Eryn Stockman was able to get a ground ball to second to end the game.
VanVleck was two for four with two RBI and a run scored to lead the Hornet offense. Stockman went the distance in the circle, giving up three runs - only two earned - on eight hits with three walks.
HORNETS AND MUSTANGS
The night cap was a back and forth affair with Emporia State striking first with two runs in the bottom of the first. Sarah Glass doubled and went to third on an error by the left fielder before coming home on a wild pitch. Danielle Sprinkle followed her with a solo home run for a 2-0 lead after one inning. Southwest Minnesota answered with two runs in the top of the third to tie the score at 2-2. Caitlin VanVleck drove in Morgan Swisher in the bottom of the third to give the Hornets the lead back. VanVleck would eventually score on a passed ball to make it 4-2 Emporia State after three. Back to back doubles by Cassidy Berry and Jacie Stephens gave the Hornets a 5-2 lead going into the fifth inning. The Mustangs took a 6-5 lead in the top of the fifth, tying the score on a two run homer from Sam Flack that would chase Emporia State starter Hannah Wright. Holly Hinkel came in and gave up one run on a walk and a double by Taylor Koloc before getting out of the inning. Southwest Minnesota added an unearned run in the sixth and took a 7-5 lead to the bottom of the seventh.
With one out in the seventh, Katie Yoakum singled and came home on a VanVleck triple. Van Vleck then scored as Glass reached on a fielder's choice to tie the game. Hinkel gave up a one out double in the top of the eighth before retiring the final two batters on a ground out and strikeout. Jacie Stephens worked a two out walk and went to second when Swisher reached on an error by the catcher. Yoakum would get the game winning RBI on a double to give the Hornets an 8-7 win and three game winning streak.
VanVleck was two for four with two RBI and two runs scored while Yoakum went two for five with a run scored and the game winning RBI. Hinkle worked the final 3.2 innings to pick up the win, allowing two runs, one unearned, on four hits with a walk and a strike out.
UP NEXT
The Hornets are scheduled to play just one game on Saturday. Emporia State will take on Concordia-St. Paul at approximately 7:00 p.m. in the Husky Dome in St. Cloud, Minn.
