April 23, 2016-Emporia State fell twice to #15 Missouri Western on Saturday afternoon at the Trusler Sports Complex. The Griffons won the matinee 7-3 and took the nightcap 2-1.
GAME ONE
After retiring the Griffons in order in the first, Emporia State was able to get two runners on in the bottom of the inning, but left them both. Missouri Western got two runs on a Megan Korgie double in the top of the second to take the lead. They added a run in the fifth on a sac fly and scored four more in the sixth to go up 7-0. Emporia State rallied with two outs in the seventh as Eryn Stockman singled and Valerie Kinney walked. Morgan Swisher then doubled down the right field line to score Stockman. Caitlin VanVleck then singled up the middle and advanced to second on the throw as Swisher and Kinney scored to pull the Hornets within 7-3.
VanVleck went three for four with two RBI and was the only Hornet with more than one hit. Stockman took the loss allowing seven runs, six of them earned on nine hits with a walk and two strikeouts.
GAME TWO
The Hornets got on the board first in the second game. Danielle Sprinkle led off with a single and went to second on a ground out by Holly Hinkel. Jacie Stephens walked and Sarah Glass singled to load the bases. After an infield fly Morgan Swisher delivered a single through the right side to score Sprinkle. Emporia State would leave the bases loaded when Shelbie Atwell snagged Caitlin VanVleck's line drive at short to end the inning. The Griffons tied the game in the third on an RBI double by Atwell and took the lead in the fourth when Kailey Green homered to left field. Emporia State had the tying run on inthe fifth when VanVleck singled but she was doubled up when she was running on Katie Yoakum's fly ball to short right field.
Sprinkle was two for three with a run scored for the Hornets. Hinkel went the distance, allowing just two runs on seven hits with a walk and two strike outs.
END OF THE YEAR
The Hornets will end the year 21-32, 9-17 in the MIAA after going through the year with no seniors on the squad. They will miss the MIAA Tournament for the first time in school history.
