February 16, 2020-Emporia State split their final day of the Alvy Early Memorial Classic in Bentonville, Ark. The Hornets run ruled Harding 9-1 before falling 5-4 to Southwest Baptist.
ESU 9, Harding 1 (5 innings)
Hannah Steeby had two home runs and five RBI as Emporia State run-ruled Harding 9-1 in five innings to run their winning streak to four games.
Sydney Righi went the distance in the circle allowing just one run on two hits.
Abbey Ward reached on an error to open the bottom of the first and scored on
Rachel Kauss RBI single. After a
Jenna Spence walk, Steeby hit the first of her two homers of the game to put the Hornets up 4-0.
Gabby Biondo doubles and two outs later
Destiny Ojigoh doubled her home for a 5-0 lead after one inning.
Ward led off the second with a home run to make it 6-0. Kauss followed with a single and Steeby brought her home on a two run homer to give the Hornets an 8-0 lead. Emporia State went up 9-0 when
Maddy Broxterman scored on a bases loaded fielder's choice in the third.
Righi retired the first seven Bisons she faced and allowed only one hit until Nicole Shano hit a one out homer in the top of the fourth to get Harding on the board. Righi then retired five of the final batters as the Hornets posted the run rule win.
Steeby went two for five with five RBI, two runs scored and two home runs.
Rachel Kauss was three for three with two runs and an RBI while Abby Ward was two for three with two runs, an RBI and a home run.
SBU 5, ESU 4
The Hornets gave up a run in the top of the seventh and had the game winning run at the plate in the bottom of the inning in a 5-4 loss to Southwest Baptist.
The Bearcats scored two unearned runs in the top of the second to take an early lead. Steeby led off the bottom of the inning with a single and stole second before scoring on Biondo's triple.
Brittanie Shepherd squeezed Biondo in with a bunt to tie the game.
SBU got single runs in the third and fourth to take a 4-2 lead before ESU evened it in the sixth. Kauss singled and would come around to score on wild pitch.
Jenna Spence doubled and went to third on a wild pitch before Steeby brought her home with a game tying sac fly.
Josie Harrison, who relieved starter
Brylie Bassett in the fourth inning, gave up a lead off walk to start the seventh. She was replaced by
Kerrigan Dixon who gave up a sac bunt and a squeeze bunt that allowed the Bearcats to score the go ahead run. Shepherd led off the bottom of the seventh with a single but a fielder's choice and two fly outs ended the game.
Biondo was two for three with a triple, a run scored and an RBI.
The Hornets will make their 2020 home debut on Friday against Minn.-Duluth at 2:00 p.m. as part of the ESU Five State Classic.
