March 18, 2018- Emporia State fell 8-7 against #7 Winona State in 11 innings on Sunday. The Hornets had seven runs on ten hits with one error in the finale of the ESU St. Patrick's Classic.
The Hornets got the scoring going in the first inning when Annie Rockley scored on an error to give Emporia State an early 1-0 lead. In the top of the third, the Warriors were able to score three runs on four hits in the inning. The Hornets came back with three runs in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI single from Rachel Kauss, followed by a two-run single off the bat of Destiny Ojigoh to take a 4-3 lead. The Warriors would tie the game in the top of the sixth, but Kenzie Garvin was able to throw out a runner at home to end the inning. After Winona State scored a run in the top of the seventh, the Hornets were able to send the game into extra innings on an RBI single from Ojigoh. The Hornets' defense came through again in the eighth as they were able to get a double play to have a scoreless inning. In the bottom of the frame, the Hornets were able to load the bases, but failed to get a runner home. After the two team would trade outs in the ninth inning, the Warriors scored two runs in the top of the tenth. With two outs in the bottom of the tenth, the Hornets were able to come through with two runs scoring on two errors from the Warriors. In the 11th, the Warriors scored on a single and the Hornets went down in order in the bottom of the frame.
Destiny Ojigoh was three for five with three RBI. Kenzie Garvin also had three hits in five at bats for the Hornets. Caitlin VanVleck had two runs scored and two walks in the game. Montana Mesler pitched five innings and struck out three, while Kelsey Phillips had three strikeouts in six innings for the Hornets.
Emporia State travels to St. Charles, Mo. to take on Lindenwood in MIAA conference action March 23.
