February 26, 2021-After 353 days without facing outside competition the Emporia State softball team got a walk off win and a shut out to open play in the Ichabod Classic at the Hummer Sports Complex in Topeka, Kan. on Saturday. The Hornets defeated Wayne State 14-13 in their first game and Rockhurst 5-0 in the second game.
GAME ONE
The Hornets trailed 13-6 going into the bottom of the sixth inning before scoring the final eight runs of the game in a 14-13 walk-off win over Wayne Sate. The Wildcats scored three in the first and two in the second to take a 5-0 led right off the bat. Emporia State answered with five runs of their own on five hits in the bottom of the second.
The Wildcats came back with four more runs in the top of the third and went up 11-5 with a two runs in the top of the fourth.
Emma Furnish, who singled in her first collegiate at bat tripled and came home on a throwing error by the shortstop in the bottom of the fourth. Wayne State added single runs in the fifth and sixth to take a seven run lead going into Emporia State's final two at bats.
Rachel Kauss and
Jenna Spence had RBI doubles around a
Kelsey Phillips RBI single to get three runs in the bottom of the sixth, but still trailed 13-9 going to the bottom of the seventh.
Destiny Ojigoh got the Hornets final comeback started with a lead off single and went to second on a wild pitch before Furnish walked.
Abbey Ward beat out an attempted sacrifice and Ojigoh was able to score when the throw to first was off line. Kauss had an RBI ground out that played Furnish to make it 13-11. Phillips then laced a triple to right center that scored Ward and Phillips tied the game when the throw trying to get her out at third was high. After a
Brittanie Shepherd single,
Roni Raines singled to right Shepherd scored when the relay throw was off as she went into third.
Abbey Ward was three for five with three runs scored while
Rachel Kauss went two for three with three RBI and a run scored and
Emma Furnish was two for three with three runs and an RBI.
Josie Harrison got the win, throwing 4.1 innings in relief with four strikeouts while giving up four runs on eight hits.
GAME TWO
The night cap was not nearly as exciting as
Kelsey Phillips tossed a four hit shutout and five different Hornet batters scored.
The game was scoreless going into the bottom of the fourth. Phillips helped herself out by getting a one out single.
Alexis Dial ran for her and after reaching third would eventually score on a throwing error during an attempted double steal to put the first run on the board. Two batters later
Cassidy Beem hit a shot over the wall in straight away center field to give Emporia State a 3-0 lead after four complete.
Brittanie Shepherd had an RBI single and
Roni Raines scored on another throwing error after she had stolen third to make it 5-0.
Phillips retired nine of the final ten Hawk batters to pick up the win. She went the distance in the circle allowing just four hits and a walk while striking out four in 7.0 innings.
Emporia State is back in action on Saturday against Missouri-St. Louis at 9:00 a.m. and the University of Mary at 1:00 p.m. at the Hummer Sports Complex.
