April 12, 2018- Emporia State swept Southwest Baptist in their midday doubleheader on Thursday. The Hornets picked up their third walk-off win of the season in the opener, winning 5-4 and won 3-2 in the second game to complete the sweep against the Bearcats.
ESU 5, SBU 4
In game one, the Bearcats would score a run in the top of the first. In the bottom of the second, Caitlin VanVleck led the inning off with a single through the right side. After stealing second and advancing to third on a groundout, VanVleck scored on a sac fly RBI from Katy Rae Nordman to tie the game at 1-1. The Bearcats would come back in the top of the third with three runs on three hits to take a 4-1 lead. The Hornets responded with three runs of their own to tie the game in the bottom of the frame. After a one-out walk, Annie Rockley and Danielle Sprinkle hit back-to-back singles with Sprinkle picking up an RBI on her hit. Rockley would come home to score on a wild pitch and VanVleck would bring in another run on her two single up the middle to tie the game at 4-4. After a scoreless fourth, fifth, and sixth inning, pinch-hitter Rachel Kauss led the bottom of the seventh off with a walk. Kenzie Garvin would ground into a fielder's choice, but would advance to second on a McKenna Davis groundout. Rockley would win the game on her two-out double to right field to give the Hornets a 5-4 walk-off win in the opener.
At the plate, Annie Rockley was two for three with an RBI, a double, and a run scored. Caitlin VanVleck had her 12th multi-hit game of the season, going two for three with an RBI and a run scored. McKenna Davis had two stolen bases in the game for the Hornets. Danielle Sprinkle drove in her 36th run of the season.
In the circle, Kelsey Phillips picked up her fifth win of the year, going the full seven innings while giving up two earned runs.
ESU 3, SBU 2
In game two, Emporia State flashed the leather early on as outfielders Kenzie Garvin and Caitlin VanVleck each had diving catches in the top half of the first inning. The Bearcats would open up the scoring in the top of the fourth with a one-out single that scored two runners. The Hornets would get two runs of their own in the bottom half of the frame. Danielle Sprinkle and VanVleck hit back-to-back singles to give the Hornets runners at first and second with one out. Pinch runner Gabby Biondo would come around to score after an error by the Bearcats led to the Hornets first run. Emporia State tied the game in the inning as VanVleck was able to score on an error. The Bearcats would load the bases with one out in the fifth, but the Hornets' defense would strand the runners after a fly out and a strikeout by pitcher Montana Mesler. In the bottom of the sixth, Garvin was able to reach on a two-out error. After Garvin stole second, pinch-hitter Rachel Kauss was able to drive her home on a single up the middle to give the Hornets a 3-2 lead. Emporia State would hold the Bearcats scoreless in the top of the seventh to complete the sweep.
Caitlin VanVleck was two for three at the plate with a run scored. Hailey Cope hit her 15th double of the year. Kenzie Garvin had a run scored and stole her 20th base of the season. Rachel Kauss picked up her third RBI of the season, which would prove to be the game winner. Montana Mesler improved to 8-12 on the season as she pitched a complete game and had four strikeouts.
The Hornets close out their homestand with a doubleheader against Central Missouri on Friday, April 13. First pitch from Turnbull Field is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
