HORNET SOFTBALL DROPS TWO AT PITT STATE

March 16, 2021-Playing without three starters due to injury, Emporia State dropped both ends of a doubleheader at Pittsburg State falling 5-0 in the first game and 6-3 in the nightcap.
 
Game one
The Gorillas hit three home runs while the Hornets were held to just one hit in the opener.
Pittsburg State took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a one out home run by Kylee Bohle.  Emporia State got two runners in scoring position with two outs in the top of the third but could not cash in.  Then in the bottom of the inning the Goriillas #9 hitter Paxtyn Hayes hit a two run homer to make it 3-0.   They would add two more runs in the bottom of the sixth on a pinch hit two run home run by Lauren Florez. 
Brittanie Shepherd got the only hit for Emporia State.  Kelsey Phillips went the distance in the circle giving up five runs on seven hits for her first loss of the season.
 
Game two
The home run was the difference again in the second game as back to back long balls for the Gorillas in the fifth broke a 3-3 tie.
Pittsburg State again got on the board first on a bases loaded fielder's choice in the first.  Emporia State answered in the top of the second when Kerrigan Dixon singled and scored on a Josie Harrison double. The Gorillas went back on top in the bottom of the second when Keelah Griffith doubled to lead off the inning and went to third on a sac bunt.  Paxtyn Hayes laid down a bunt and the Hornets could not get the out at the plate.
Abbey Ward led off the top of the third with a double and scored on Emma Furnish's triple.  Brittanie Shepherd followed with an RBI single to give Emporia State a 3-2 lead headed to the bottom of the third.   Bella Konieczka tied it up for Pitt State with a two out RBI single in the bottom of the third.
It stayed tied until the bottom of the fifth when Audrey Miller and Kami Zimmerman hit back to back home runs to open the inning. Dixon relieved Sidney Righi in the circle and got a strike out before Griffith hit a triple.  Dixon got another strikeout before Hayes doubled to right center to make it 6-3.
Dixon was two for three with a run scored, Furnish went one for four with a run and an RBI while Shepherd and Harrison each had an RBI and Ward scored a run.
 
Emporia State is scheduled to be back in action this weekend at the Hyvee Classic in St. Joseph, Mo.  Their first game of the tourney is slated to be Minnesota State at 10:00 a.m. on Friday at the Griffon Softball Field on the campus of Missouri Western.
 
NOTE
Emporia State started the double header without starters Rachel Kauss and Gabby Biondo due to injuries and starter Roni Raines was injured in the first inning of game one.