April 5, 2018- Emporia State split their doubleheader against Neb.-Kearney on Thursday. The Hornets scored seven runs in the opener on their way to a 7-5 win, before falling 2-0 in the second game against the Lopers.
ESU 7, UNK 5
Emporia State got the scoring going early on, jumping out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first. The Hornets would load the bases after back-to-back singles from McKenna Davis and Annie Rockley, followed by Caitlin VanVleck reaching base on an error. Danielle Sprinkle would drive in a run on her infield single and another run would score on Destiny Ojigoh's RBI groundout. Kelsey Phillips would bring home two more runs in the inning on her two-out triple. After the Lopers scored a run in the bottom of the first, the two teams would go scoreless in the next two innings. In the bottom of the fourth, the Lopers would score three runs in the inning to tie the game at 4-4. The Hornets would break the tie in the sixth as Katy Rae Nordman hit a two-run double to right field and would come home to score on an RBI groundout from Davis. The Lopers would rally in the bottom of the seventh, scoring a run, but the Hornets would hold on for a 7-5 win in game one.
Kelsey Phillips was three for four at the plate with two RBI and a triple. Annie Rockley had three hits in the game to give her 12 multi-hit games on the season. Danielle Sprinkle went one for three with an RBI, a walk, and a run scored. Katy Rae Nordman had two RBI, with a double and a run scored. McKenna Davis and Destiny Ojigoh each had an RBI and a run scored in the game. Phillips picked up her third win for the Hornets, giving up three earned runs in seven innings and had four strikeouts.
UNK 2, ESU 0
In game two, both teams would go scoreless in the first four innings. The Hornets would get two runners on in the top of the fourth after Danielle Sprinkle walked and Kelsey Phillips moved her to third on a double to right field, but both would be left stranded. The Lopers would get on the board in the bottom of the fifth, scoring two runs on three hits in the inning. Emporia State would get a runner on base in both the sixth and seventh inning, but were unable to bring them home as the Hornets fell 2-0 in the nightcap.
Annie Rockley and Kelsey Phillips both went one for three with a double. Danielle Sprinkle, Katy Rae Nordman, and Kenzie Garvin all had a hit in the game for the Hornets. Montana Mesler started the game in the circle, pitching six innings and giving up two runs.
The Hornets return to action on Tuesday, April 10 as they begin their home stand with a non-conference doubleheader against Newman. Game one of the doubleheader has a first pitch scheduled for 4:00 p.m at the Trusler Sports Complex.
