April 1, 2016 - Emporia State softball split a double header Friday afternoon with Southwest Baptist winning the first game 7-6 and losing the second game 4-12.
A four run first inning for the Hornets put them up 4-0 early in game one. Cassidy Berry sent Danielle Sprinkle and Katie Yoakum home on a double to left center to put Emporia State on the board 2-0. Erica Harper followed with a two-run homer to left center, putting the Hornets up 4-0 going into the second inning.
Southwest Baptist answered in the second inning with two runs off of one hit and two Emporia State errors. With the Hornets leading 4-2, Jacie Stephens would score on a wild pitch to put Emporia State up 5-2 in the bottom of the second. The Bearcats would go scoreless in the top of the third, but the Hornets would score another run from a Stephens sac fly to go up 6-2 heading into the fourth.
After a scoreless fourth inning for both teams, the Bearcats had a four run inning in the fifth off of five hits to trail 6-6. The Hornets answered in the bottom of the fifth when Caitlin VanVleck singled to right field, sending Stephens home and taking a 7-6 lead. The sixth and top of the seventh inning were scoreless as Emporia State took the game.
Morgan Swisher hit three for four. Harper and Cassidy Berry went two for three with two RBI.Jacie Stephens hit two for two with two runs scored. Holly Hinkel picked up a win and improved to 4-7, pitching 2.2 innings allowing one hit, no runs, and no walks.
A six run third inning secured game two for Southwest Baptist. Emporia State would score three runs in the third inning to trail 7-3. Southwest Baptist and Emporia State each scored another run in the fourth for the Hornets to trail 8-4 going into the fifth. The Bearcats scored four runs in the fifth inning to envoke a run rule and win 12-4.
Cassidy Berry went three for three in game two while Jacie Stephens went two for two. Morgan Swisher hit two for four. Vanvleck, Danielle Sprinkle, Harper, and Stephens all had an RBI.
The Hornets will host Central Missouri Saturday, April 2 for a double header to continue MIAA play. First pitch will be at 1:00 p.m. at Turnbull Field.
