April 28, 2017 - The Emporia State softball team defeated Northwest Missouri 5-1 on Friday evening to advance to the MIAA Tournament championship.
The Hornets led 2-1 in hits through the first three innings before the Bearcats took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning on two hits.
The Emporia State defense retired the side in the top of the fifth inning to take advantage in the bottom half of the inning, scoring five runs on five hits to take a 5-1 lead. Back-to-back singles from Caitlin VanVleck and McKenna Davis allowed a run to come home and tie the game 1-1 with one out in the fifth. The Hornets took their first lead of the game, 3-1, on a Hailey Cope two RBI single up the middle. Jacie Stephens followed with a single of her own to plate two more and give Emporia State their 5-1 lead.
The Bearcats had only two hits in the final two innings on the way to the Hornets' third win of the day. Davis was the only Hornet with multiple hits, going two for three. Cope and Stephens each had two RBI. Eryn Stockman improved to 24-13 on the season, pitching the final 3.0 innings. Stockman allowed only two hits with a strikeout and no runs or walks. Holly Hinkel had a good outing, pitching the first 4.0 innings for Emporia State. She allowed just one run on three hits with no walks.
This is the first time Emporia State has advanced to the MIAA Tourney championship game since 2013 against Fort Hays. The Hornets won eight of nine MIAA Tournaments from 2004-12 and look to win their first in five years. This is also the first time an eight seed has advanced to the championship game since Northeastern State in 2014.
The eighth seeded Hornets face the first seeded Bronchos at 11:00 a.m. in Oklahoma City, Okla. The game will be played on Energy Field at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium.
