April 9, 2016-The Hornet softball team was swept by Neb.-Kearney on Saturday, falling 11-3 in the matinee and 3-2 in the nightcap.
GAME ONE
The Hornets gave up two big innings in the game one loss to the Lopers. Neb.-Kearney scored five runs, three of them unearned, in the third inning. Emporia State answered with a two run double by Danielle Sprinkle in the fifth and an RBI single from Morgan Swisher in the sixth to pull within 5-3. But the Lopers exploded for six runs in the bottom of the sixth, including a pair of two run home runs to end the game.
GAME TWO
Holly Hinkel started game two for the Hornets and helped herself with the bat as she drove in Cassidy Berry in the top of the second to give Emporia State a 1-0 lead. The Lopers would tie the game with an unearned run in the fifth and took the lead with a two run double in the top fo the sixth. The Hornets got a double from Sarah Glass and a single from Valerie Kinney to start the seventh before Swisher grounded into a double play with Glass getting thrown out at the plate. Caitlin VanVleck singled in a run to make it 3-2 but was left on base as the game ended.
NOTES
The nightcap was Emporia State's eighth loss and 16th game that was decided by one run or in extra innings this year.
UP NEXT
Emporia State will return to the Trusler Sports Complex to take on Central Oklahoma on Thursday, April 14 on Turnbull Field. First pitch of the double header is set for 3:00 p.m.
