April 22, 2016-Emporia State swept a double header from a nationally ranked opponent for the first time since March of 2014 as they won two against #25 Northwest Missouri on Friday at the Trusler Sports Complex. The 1-0 and 3-2 wins kept the Hornets post season hopes alive for one more day.
GAME ONE
Eryn Stockman pitched a gem and had the big hit in the opener for the Hornets. Stockman tossed her first complete game, seven inning shutout since last season, allowing just four hits, three walks and a strikeout. The defense behind her broke a string of 19 straight games with an error by playing clean for all seven innings.
The Bearcats Kendle Schieber matched Stockman through the first four innings until Stockman led off the bottom of the fifth with a home run. That would be the only offense in the game as the Hornets won 1-0 for their first shutout over a ranked team since an 8-0 win over then #13 Ft. Hays State on March 14, 2014.
GAME TWO
Northwest Missouri would take a 1-0 lead in the first on a Rebecca Mahrer RBI double and went up 2-0 in the fourth on an RBI single from Schieber. Emporia State got on the board in the fifth when Morgan Swisher singled and stole second with two outs. Caitlin VanVleck beat out a high chopper back to the pitcher to put runners on first and third. Katie Yoakum then placed another high chopper just over Chantel Adams head at third to score Swisher.
Danielle Sprinkle led off the sixth with a walk and went to second on Hinkel's sac bunt. Jacie Stephens tied the game with a single to left center that plated Sprinkle and went to second on the throw. Erica Harper pinch hit for Marly Carmona and delivered and RBI single up the middle for go ahead run.
Hinkel gave up a single to Schieber to lead off the top of the seventh. She would advance to third on a sac bunt and ground out before Hinkel got a ground ball to third and Carmona threw out Torri Blythe to end the game.
Stephens went two for three with an RBI and a run scored for the Hornets. Hinkel picked up the win allowing just two runs on seven hits with no walks.
FIRST TIME SINCE
It was the first time the Hornets had swept a double header from a nationally ranked team since defeating then #13 Ft. Hays State 7-6 and 8-0 on March 14, 2014.
It was the first sweep of a nationally ranked team at Trusler since the Hornets defeated then #9 Missouri Western 5-2 and 5-4 on March 25, 2012.
UP NEXT
Emporia State will play the final regular season games on Saturday against #15 Missouri Western at Trusler. First pitch of the double header is set for 2:00 p.m.
