April 2, 2016 - Emporia State softball improved to 7-7 in the MIAA after a sweep of Central Missouri Saturday afternoon. Hornets took game one 9-5 and won game two 8-5 totaling 20 hits and 16 RBI.
Central Missouri started the game off with one run from three hits in the top of the first, only to have Danielle Sprinkle answer in the bottom of the first with a single to left field, sending Caitlin VanVleck home.
After the Jennies went scoreless in the top of the second, the Hornets took the lead 5-1 in the bottom of the second from four hits. Lead off batter Jacie Stephens homered to left center to take a 2-1 lead. Cassidy Berry reached on a fielder's choice but sent Katie Yoakum home to lead 3-1. Sprinkle, singling to right field this time, sent two runs in to go up 5-1.
The Hornets scattered three runs through the third and fourth inning, the Jennies scoring one in the fourth for an 8-2 Emporia State advantage. Central Missouri would then score three runs off three hits in the top of the fifth to close the gap 8-5 heading into the sixth inning.
Emporia State would hold off Central Missouri, allowing only one hit in the final two innings and taking the game 9-5.
Sprinkle and Stephens each went two for three in game one. Sprinkle had three RBI while Stephens had two runs scored. Morgan Swisher hit two for four and had three RBI. Erica Harper, Sarah Glass, and Yoakum all hit one for three. Harper and Valerie Kinney each had a double in game one, Stephens a home run. Eryn Stockman pitched 4.2 innings and picked up a win to improve to 11-8 on the season. Holly Hinkel earned her first save of the season, pitching 2.1 innings and allowing only one hit.
A five fun first inning for the Hornets gave them an early jump on the Jennies. It would be Danielle Sprinkle again who sent a run in, this time reaching on a fielder's choice and putting Emporia State up 1-0. Erica Harper followed with a double to right field, sending in another two runs and opening the game up 3-0 with only one out. Jacie Stephens singled to left field a few batters later, sending Harper home and putting the Hornets up 4-0. Sarah Glass scored the fifth and final run of the first inning when she stole home.
Central Missouri scored one run in the second and third inning to close the gap 5-2 going into the fourth. The Jennies wouldn't score in the top of the fourth, so Sprinkle took advantage and hit a three run home run to give the Hornets a 8-2 lead going into the fifth. Neither team scored in the fifth inning. Central Missouri had three runs off of two hits and three Emporia State errors to trail 8-5 going into the seventh. The Hornets finished the game with a three up three down defensive seventh inning and sweeping the Jennies.
Caitlin VanVleck hit two for three in game two while Morgan Swisher hit two for four. Sprinkle had two runs scored and four RBI on one hit. Erica Harper had two RBI. Glass had two stolen bases in game two, Swisher, Stephens, and McCbomb each with one stolen base. Holly Hinkel pitched a full seven inning game with no walks to pick up a win and improve to 5-7 on the season.
The Hornets will travel to Fort Hays on Friday, April 8 for an MIAA double header. First pitch will be at 4:00 p.m.
