February 24, 2017-Emporia State was able to get a split on Friday against Sioux Falls in their second day of playing under the Husky Dome in St. Cloud, Minn. The Hornets were shut out 3-0 in the first game and came back to take a 4-1 victory in the nightcap.
Game One USF 3, ESU 0
Four of the six Cougars that reached base did so in the first inning as Sioux Falls and Kerrigan Hoshaw helped herself with a two run homer in the first. Eryn Stockman would only allow two base runners the rest of the way but the Hornets would not be able to get on the board in the 3-0 loss. Emporia State had base runners in four of the last five innings, but could not get enough hits together to score against Hoshaw and reliever Breanna Black.
Jacie Stephens went two for three at the plate for Emporia State.
Game Two ESU 4, USF 1
The Cougars would threaten in the first again in the second game, but Holly Hinkel struck out the side around a hit batter and ground rule double in the opening frame. Danielle Sprinkle got the Hornets out in front with an RBI single that scored pinch runner Carlie McComb in the top of the second. Emporia State went ahead 2-0 on an RBI single from Katy Rae Nordman that plated Sarah Glass with two outs in the third. Hoshaw hit her second home run of the day in the fourth inning to cut the Hornets lead in half. Hailey Cope delivered a two run double in the top of the sixth to give the Hornets a 4-1 lead. That would be more than enough for Hinkel, who allowed just the one run on five hits with six strikeouts and no walks.
Nordman went two for two with an RBI while Stephens was two for three with a run scored and reached base all three times.
Emporia State will wrap up their three day trip to St. Cloud on Saturday with a double header against Minn.-Duluth. First pitch from the Husky Dome is set for 10:00 a.m.
