February 8, 2019- Emporia State Softball fell in both games of the double header 7-3, x-x against Nova Southeastern in Fort Lauderdale, FL on Friday. The Hornets fell in game one before an umpire illness caused a two-hour delay in game two.
Â
Game One
In the top of the first inning, the Hornets got two on base as Kenzie Garvin led off with a single up the middle and stole second. With two outs on the board, Hannah Steeby was intentionally walked before the final out was recorded. The Sharks were first on the board after a lead-off walk was advanced on a sac bunt and driven in with a triple. The Sharks would tack on five more runs to extend their lead to 6-0 after one.
Â
The Hornets got on the board in the top of the third with three runs on five hits. Garvin led off with a single to left center and advanced to third on a double from Brittanie Shepherd. Kelsey Phillips reached on a fielder's choice as Garvin was out at home. Steeby was intentionally walked for the second straight at bat to load the bases before Destiny Ojigoh singled to right field to drive in Shepherd for the Hornets first run. Cassidy Beem followed Ojigoh with another single to right that drove Phillips for the second run. Steeby scored the final run for the Hornets in the third on a single up the middle from Rachel Kauss for the Hornets to trail 6-3.
Â
Teams exchanged outs for the next three innings with before the Sharks broke the drought. Nova Southeastern scored the final run of the game with one run on one hit in the bottom of the sixth inning to take the 7-3 win.
Â
Kenzie Garvin led the Hornets with three hits in four at bats followed by Cassidy Beem with two hits. Brittanie Shepherd, Kelsey Phillips and Hannah Steeby each scored one run for the Hornets. Steeby had four plate appearances and one hit after being intentionally walked on her first three at bats.
Â
Montana Mesler started in the circle for the Hornets and pitched the complete game. She went six innings allowing seven runs on five hits with six K's.
Â
Game Two
In the second game of the double header, the Sharks were first on the board with one run on one hit and one Hornets error in the bottom of the first. The Hornets got two runners on base in the top of the second but were unable to capitalize. In the bottom of the second, the Hornets stranded one Sharks base runner.
Â
With two outs on the board, Kenzie Garvin singled through the left side but would be stranded at first as the next batter grounded out to third. In the bottom of the inning, Sydney Righi walked the first two batters before a throwing error allowed them to score and extend the Sharks lead to 3-0. The following batter reached on a fielding error and advanced to second on the throw. With runners on second and third, Righi retired the next two batters by strikeout and ground out.
Â
In the bottom of the third innings with two outs on the board, the game was delayed due to an umpire becoming too ill to continue. The delay lasted nearly two hours before play was continued.
Â
After the delay, the Sharks would score three runs to close out the bottom of the third. The Sharks had no hits in the inning and all runs were unearned on three Hornet errors.
Â
The Hornets were retired in order in the top of the fourth before the Sharks extended their lead to 9-0 with three runs on three hits in the bottom of the inning. In the top of the fifth, the Hornets were unable to overcome the deficit falling in the run-rule decision.
Â
Kenzie Garvin recorded the only hit for Emporia State in the game as no Hornet saw more than two at bats. Sydney Righi started in the circle and received the loss for the Hornets as she pitched 2.2 innings allowing six runs on one hit and five walks. Mackenzie Thornton pitched the final 1.1 innings allowing three runs on three hits with three walks.
Â
The Hornets are back in action on Saturday, Feb. 9 as they take on Barry University in double header action on day two of the Fort Lauderdale Tournament. The first game of the double header is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. ET, 11:00 a.m. CST.
Â
