March 21, 2017-After nearly getting run ruled in the opener, Emporia State came back to run rule Northeastern State and earn a split of their MIAA doubleheader in Tahlequah, Okla. on Tuesday. The Hornets lost 9-3 in the matinee and won 14-0 in five innings in the night cap.
GAME ONE
After the Hornets went down in order in the top of the first, the RiverHawks got a pair of two run home runs to take a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the inning in the first game of the double header. Northeastern State made it 6-0 with another two run homer in the bottom of the second.
Emporia State got on the board with a solo home run by Jacie Stephens with two outs in the top of the fourth. Carlee Gann answered with a solo shot of her own in the RiverHawks half of the fourth. Katy Rae Nordman hit a one out double in the fifth and with two outs Caitlin VanVleck delivered a single that scored pinch runner Carlie McComb.
Kaelah McMullin relieved Emporia State starter Holly Hinkle to start the bottom of the fifth and walked four straight batters to force in another run. After tossing a wild pitch that allowed another run to score and make it 9-2, Eryn Stockman came on in relief and got a double play and strike out to end the inning and avoid the run rule.
Sarah Glass led off the sixth with a solo homer to make it 9-3, but that would be the final score of the game.
Glass and Stephens both went one for three with a solo home run while McKenna Davis was two for three with two singles.
Hinkel took the loss, allowing seven runs on seven hits with two walks and a strikeout. Stockman worked 2.0 scoreless innings in relief, allowing a hit and a walk with three strikeouts.
GAME TWO
Emporia State scored first in the nightcap as the first six batters reached base in the top of the first. Caitlin VanVleck led off with an infield single, went to second on a walk to Katie Yoakum, and took third on a Sarah Glass single through the left side that loaded the bases. VanVleck was thrown out at the plate for the first out of the inning as Jacie Stephens reached on a fielder's choice to keep the bases loaded. McKenna Davis then delivered a two RBI single up the middle to put runners at first and third. Davis was thrown out trying to steal second for the second out before Danielle Sprinkle hit an RBI single to left.
After closing the first game, Eryn Stockman started the second one and gave up a single and hit a batter before getting to pop ups on the infield and a fly out to left to end the inning.
Emporia State then exploded for seven runs in the third inning to take control of the game. Glass and Stephens opened the inning with back to back singles and after a wild pitch Davis grounded out to the pitcher to plate Glass. Sprinkle walked to again put runners at first and third when Hailey Cope singled to short and drove in Stephens. Katie Rae Nordman singled to load the bases before Annelise Rockley knocked a two run double to right. VanVleck followed with a two RBI single and went to second on the throw as the Hornets took a 9-0 lead. Yoakum singled to right to again put runners on the corners. VanVleck stole home on a double steal to give Emporia State an 10-0 lead.
The Hornets added four more runs in the fourth inning. VanVleck had an RBI single that drove in Cope and Glass hit a two run double that plated Rockley and VanVleck. The final run came when Stephens reached on an error by the RiverHawk shortstop Kelsey Harmon that allowed Yoakum to score the 14th run.
The offensive explosion was more than enough for Stockman who retired 15 of the final 16 batters she faced for her fifth shutout of the year. For the game she allowed just three base runners, giving up two hits and hitting one batter while walking none and getting one strikeout. In the double header she threw 7.0 shutout innings and has not allowed a run in her last 15.1 innings pitched.
VanVleck went three for four with three RBI and two runs scored while Glass was three for four with two runs and two RBI. Davis was one for three with three RBI and Cope went one for four with two runs scored and an RBI.
The Hornets continue their road trip on Wednesday when they take on #9 Central Oklahoma in Edmond, Okla. First pitch of the double header is set for 1:00 p.m.
