February 18, 2018- Emporia State picked up their second win against a ranked opponent this year with a walk-off win against #10 Southern Arkansas, but fell 6-3 to William Jewell as they went 1-1 on Sunday at the ESU 6-State Classic at the Trusler Sports Complex.
ESU 4, SAU 3
After the Muleriders hit a solo home run in the top of the first, the Hornets tied it up in the bottom of the inning when Annie Rockley scored on a passed ball. The game turned into a pitcher's duel as neither team was able to score in the next three innings. Southern Arkansas would break the tie in the top of the fifth, but Emporia State was able to take advantage of two errors on the Muleriders in the bottom half of the inning to take a 3-2 lead. The Muleriders would tie the game again in the next inning. The Hornets loaded the bases and got a walk-off in the bottom of the seventh as Caitlin VanVleck raced home when Kenzie Garvin's sharp grounder to third was mishandled to give the Hornets the 4-3 win.
VanVleck had three of the Hornets' six hits as she was a perfect three for three at the plate with two runs scored. Montana Mesler gave up five hits in six innings to go with two strikeouts. Kelsey Phillips picked up her second win of the season as she pitched an inning of relief.
WJC 6, ESU 3
After two scoreless innings, William Jewell scored five runs in the top of the third to take a 5-0 lead. Destiny Ojigoh got the Hornets on the board with a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Hornets picked up two more runs in the bottom of the sixth after Ojigoh picked up another RBI single and Caitlin VanVleck scored on an error to cut the WJC lead to 5-3. The Cardinals added an insurance run in the top of the seventh as the Hornets fell 6-3.
Ojigoh went two for three at the plate with two RBI. McKenna Davis was one for three with two runs scored. Kelsey Phillips gave up three hits in 2.2 innings pitched and Montana Mesler pitched 4.1 innings, giving up three hits and striking out three hitters.
The Hornets return home on Friday, March 2 as they open up MIAA play with a doubleheader against Central Oklahoma.
