March 9, 2018- Emporia State split their MIAA road opener at Pittsburg State on Friday afternoon. The Hornets shutout the Gorillas 8-0 in five innings in the matinee and then fell 11-9 in the nightcap.
ESU 8, PSU 0
In game one, the Hornets scored eight runs on 12 hits. The Hornets got the scoring started in the top of the second as Katy Rae Nordman picked up an RBI sac fly and Cassidy Beem hit a two-out single to give the Hornets a 2-0 lead. Emporia State would extend that lead in the next inning as Danielle Sprinkle hit a three-run home run to right center. In her next at bat, Sprinkle hit a solo home run to right field for her fourth RBI of the game. The Hornets would tack on two more runs in the top of the fifth as Destiny Ojigoh singled in Annie Rockley, who got on with a triple, and Katy Rae Nordman hit a double to score Ojigoh. The Hornets would hold on for the shutout and the run-rule as they beat the Gorillas 8-0 in five innings.
Danielle Sprinkle was a perfect three for three at the plate as she hit two home runs with four RBI. Destiny Ojigoh was two for three with a double and an RBI. Caitlin VanVleck was two for three with two stolen bases and a run scored. Katy Rae Nordman picked up two RBI and a double. Cassidy Beem was two for three and had an RBI.
Montana Mesler and Mackenzie Thornton combined to complete the shutout for the Hornets. Mesler pitched four innings and struck out six batters, while Thornton pitched a clean bottom of the fifth.
PSU 11, ESU 9
In the nightcap, the Hornets picked up right where they left off from game one. In the top of the first, Danielle Sprinkle hit an RBI double and Annie Rockley hit a two-run single to give the Hornets an early 3-0 lead. The Gorillas would respond with two runs in the bottom of the frame. The two teams would trade outs for the next two innings before Caitlin VanVleck would come through in the top of the fourth with a two-run single to give the Hornets a 5-2 lead. The Gorillas would respond again with three runs in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game. In the bottom of the fifth, the Gorillas would break the tie with four runs and score two more in the sixth as the Hornets trailed 11-5. The Hornets would put together a late rally in the top of the seventh as Hailey Cope's double scored two runs and Destiny Ojigoh hit a two-run home run, but the rally would stop there as the Hornets fell 11-9.
Kenzie Garvin, Annie Rockley, Destiny Ojigoh and Kelsey Phillips each had a multi-hit game for the Hornets. Rockley was two for four with two RBI and Garvin was two for four with two runs scored. Ojigoh hit her second home run of the season to go along with two RBI. Caitlin VanVleck was one for three at the plate with two RBI. Hailey Cope had two RBI and a double in the game. Danielle Sprinkle picked up her 19th RBI and ninth double of the year.
Kelsey Phillips pitched 4.2 innings for the Hornets giving up eight runs on eight hits. Destiny Ojigoh pitched 1.1 innings of relief in her eighth appearance in the circle this year.
The Hornets continue the weekend road trip as they face Missouri Southern in a doubleheader on Saturday, March 10. First pitch from Joplin, Mo. is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.
