March 25, 2017 - The Hornet softball team finished the weekend undefeated after sweeping Lincoln on Saturday afternoon. Emporia State defeated the Blue Tigers 8-3 in game one and run ruled them 12-1 in five innings in game two.
GAME ONE
The Hornets started the day off hot, scoring all eight of their runs of game one in the first three innings. Sarah Glass gave Emporia State their first run in the bottom of the first inning when she sent Caitlin VanVleck home on a double to left field. Glass then scored on a wild pitch later that inning to put the Hornets up 2-0 after one. VanVleck doubled to left center in the second to plate another two runs and put Emporia State up 4-0. Annie Rockley singled to right field, sending VanVleck home and giving the Hornets a 5-0 advantage after two innings. Glass smacked a lead off triple to left center in the bottom of the third inning before a Blue Tiger error sent her home. Cassidy Berry found her way home on another two Lincoln errors, putting Emporia State up 7-1. Katy Rae Nordman singled to left center to score the final run for the Hornets. The Blue Tigers scored two runs in the top of the seventh before Eryn Stockman ended the game on a strike out, giving the Hornets an 8-3 win.
Stockman pitched her third complete game in the last two days, improving to 14-7 on the season. She allowed three runs on eight hits with three walks and three strikeouts. VanVleck led the first game with two RBI and two runs scored, hitting three for four. Glass went two for three with two runs scored. The Hornets had a .393 batting average in game one.
GAME TWO
The Hornets run ruled the Blue Tigers 12-1 in five innings in game two, scoring seven runs in the first inning. Danielle Sprinkle singled up the middle to empty the bases and put Emporia State up 3-0 with no outs. A sac fly from Hailey Cope and a single through the right side from Marly Carmona scored another two runs for the Hornets. Emporia State had three runs on just one hit in the second inning, Glass scoring on a wild pitch and Berry hitting a two-run homerun to left field. The Hornets scored a run in each of the third and fourth innings on the way to a 12-1 run rule.
Holly Hinkel improved to 6-8 on the year, pitching all 5.0 innings with just one run on six hits with one walk and two strikeouts. Berry and Rockley each went two for three in game two with two runs a piece, Berry with two RBI. Sprinkle had three RBI on one hit with two runs. Emporia State hit .476 in game two.
UP NEXT
The Hornets travel to Liberty, Mo. for a mid-week non-conference double header against William Jewell. The games will be on Wednesday, March 29 beginning at 2:00 p.m.
