March 22, 2019-Emporia State dropped a pair of one run games on Friday at the ESU Regional Crossover at the Trusler Sports Complex. The Hornets fell 2-1 to Minnesota State and 6-5 to Concordia-St. Paul.
Minnesota State 2, Emporia State 1
After a scoreless first inning Hannah Steeby hit a lead off home run in the second inning to give the Hornets a 1-0 lead. Kelsey Phillips would make that stand up through the first five innings, allowing one hit until McKenzie Paap led of the sixth with a bunt single. Courtney Potter sacrificed Paap to second and Carly Esselman tied the game with a double to right center. After a fly ball moved Esselman to third, Hannah Hastings reached on an error that allowed Esselman to score and give the Mavericks a 2-1 lead. Kenzie Garvin would get to third base in the bottom of the sixth but could not score as Minnesota took the 2-1 win.
Concordia-St. Paul 6, Emporia State 5
The Golden Bears took a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning when Hanna Mortenson hit a two run home run. The Hornets answered in the bottom of the inning with three runs of their own. Gabby Biondo reached on a bunt single to open the inning and went to second on Destiny Ojigoh's single through the right side. After a fly out moved both runners up a base and Biondo would score on a wild pitch. Cassidy Beem hit an RBI single that scored Ojigoh and went to second when the ball was misplayed by the centerfielder. Rachel Kauss followed with an RBI single to left that plated Beem and gave the Hornets a 3-2 lead.
CSP answered right back in the top of the fifth scoring three more runs on four straight hits with one out. ESU avoided anymore damage when Kailee Odegard cut down a runner trying to score on a ground ball to third with out and Mackenzie Thornton, who had come on in relief of starter Montana Mesler, got a ground ball to end the inning. The Hornets got one run back in the bottom fo the fifth when Garvin singled and then scored on a triple by Biondo to make it 5-4. The Bears answered with an unearned run in the top of the sixth to go up 6-4. Maddy Broxterman led off the bottom of the seventh with an infield single, then stole second and went to third on a throwing error by the Mav's catcher. Garvin singled her home to pull the Hornets within 6-5 but could not get the tying run across to fall 6-5.
With the threat of inclement weather looming, a determination on the schedule for the final day of the ESU Regional Crossover will be made Saturday morning.
