EMPORIA STATE SOFTBALL SPLITS DAY ONE AT THE SPRINGFIELD INVITATIONAL

February 28, 2019- Emporia State Softball split games on their first day in Peoria, Ill., falling 7-6 to Quincy in game one and defeating Lewis 10-9 in game two of the day on Thursday.
 
Game One
The Hornets took an early lead with three runs in the top of the first inning. Kenzie Garvin led off with a single to right field and was caught stealing. Gabby Biondo walked and advanced to second on a passed ball before stealing third. Biondo scored on the second passed ball of the inning. Kelsey Phillips walked and stole second before scoring on a single from Destiny Ojigoh. Ojigoh scored on a rbi single from Rachel Kauss to give the Hornets a 3-0 lead.
 
Quincy closed the gap to 3-2 with one run in the bottom of the first and one run in the bottom of the second. The Hornets answered in the top of the third with two runs to extend their lead to 5-2. Biondo doubled to left center field and scored when Cassidy Beem singled to left field. Beem was out at second on the play. Kelsey Phillips wrapped up scoring in the inning with a home run.
 
The Hornets capped their scoring with one run in the top of the sixth. Kauss led off the inning with a single and Mackenzie Thornton came in as a pinch runner. Valerie Kinney put down a sac bunt to advance Thornton to second. Thornton advanced to third on a passed ball before scoring on a sac fly from Kailee Odegard to give the Hornets a 6-3 lead.
 
The Hawks used four runs on three hits and one Hornet error to take the lead and the 7-6 win in the bottom of the seventh inning.
 
The Hornets recorded 11 hits in the game from eight different players. Cassidy Beem, Rachel Kauss and Kailee Odegard each had two hits. Gabby Biondo and Kelsey Phillips led the Hornets with two runs each. Montana Mesler started on the mound for the Hornets pitching 5.2 innings with three K's. Brylie Bassett pitched 1.0 innings allowing one run.
 
Game Two
After trailing early, the Hornets used late scoring to tie the game and force extra innings for the 10-9 win.
 
The Hornets got on the board first with one run in the top of the first. Kinzie Garvin led off with a single to third base and advanced to second on a single from Gabby Biondo. Runners advanced on a passed ball and Garvin would score on a sac fly from Cassidy Beem to give the Hornets the 1-0 lead. The Hornets had three hits in the inning and left two runners on base.
 
In the bottom of the first, the Flyers took a 4-1 lead with four runs on six hits. After a scoreless second inning, the Flyers got two runs on three hits to extend their lead to 6-1 over the Hornets.
 
Over the next three innings, the Hornets would score eight runs to take a 9-6 lead. In the top of the fourth, the Hornets scored three runs on three hits. Valerie Kinney led off with a single to center field. Brittanie Shepherd came in to pinch run for Kinney and stole second before Kailee Odegard reached on a walk. Mackenzie Thornton advanced the runners with a single to left field and Shepherd was out at home on the play. Garvin walked to load the bases before Biondo hit a rbi ground out that scored Odegard. Beem singled through the left side for two rbi to bring the Hornets within 4-6 heading to the fifth inning.
 
In the top of the fifth, Destiny Ojigoh led off and reached on a fielding error and advanced to second as Rachel Kauss grounded out to first. Ojigoh scored on a rbi triple from Odegard before a single from Thornton drove in the Hornets tying run. After five complete innings, the Hornets were tied 6-6 with the Flyers.
 
After stranding one Flyers runner in the bottom of the fifth, the Hornets regained the lead with three runs on four hits in the top of the sixth. Biondo led off with a bunt single and advanced to second on a single from Beem. Kelsey Phillips walked to load the bases before runners advanced on a passed ball that allowed Biondo to score. Phillips and Beem scored on a bunt single from Ojigoh to wrap up scoring and give the Hornets the 9-6 lead.
 
The Flyers answered in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie the game with three runs on three hits. A scoreless seventh inning kept the score tied a 9-9 forcing extra innings.
 
The Hornets broke the tie quickly with one run in the top of the eighth. By rule, Beem was placed at second to start the inning and would advance and score on a sac bunt from Phillips to give the Hornets the 10-9 lead. The Hornets held on in the bottom of the inning to take the win.
 
The Hornets had 13 hits in the game from eight different players. Cassidy Beem and Kenzie Garvin led the Hornets with two runs on two hits each. Kailee Odegard scored two runs for the Hornets with one hit.
 
Sydney Righi started on the mound for the Hornets allowing four runs on six hits before being relieved by Kelsey Phillips. Phillips pitched 7.2 innings allowing five runs on seven hits with two K's.
 
The Hornets are back in action on Friday, March 1 as they wrap up play at the Springfield Invitational. Emporia State takes on Illinois-Springfield at 11:00 a.m. followed by Purdue Northwest at 3:00 p.m.