March 7, 2021-Emporia State finished the 5-State Classic with a five wins after posting a split on Sunday. The Hornet lost to Wayne State (Neb.) 7-5 in their first game and came back to win 5-1 in the final game of the tournament.
WSC 7, ESU 5
Emporia State fell behind early giving up three unearned runs to Wayne State in the top of the first and trailed 7-0 after three innings.
The Hornets had runners in three of the first four innings but did not break through to score until the fifth.
Abbey Ward singled with two outs and
Emma Furnish homered to left field to make it 7-2. That was still the score headed into the bottom of the seventh.
Brittanie Shepherd worked a one out walk and advanced to second on a ground out. Furnish then doubled to drive in Shepherd and went to third on an error by the left fielder.
Roni Raines was hit by a pitch and stole second before a
Kelsey Phillips two RBI single up the middle made it 7-5.
Kerrigan Dixon reached on an error at third to bring the winning run to the plate.
Brylie Bassett flied out to center against a strong wind coming to end the game.
Emma Furnish went three for four with three RBI, two runs scored, a double and a home run.
ESU 5, QU 1
Emporia State got in front early and pulled away late in a 5-1 win over Quincy in the final game of the day.
Gabby Biondo reached on a fielding error at third and stole second. She went to third on a ground out and scored when
Brittanie Shepherd reached on a field error by the second baseman.
Josie Harrison made sure the one run lead would hold up, taking a no hitter into the fourth inning before surrendering a two out double. She then got a called third strike to end the inning. She then helped herself at the plate in the bottom of the fourth. She led off with a single through the left side and went first to third on a sac bunt by Biondo.
Kerrigan Dixon then singled off the glove of a diving Hawk second baseman to drive in Harrison with an insurance run.
Quincy got on the board in the top of the sixth with a single run on two singles sandwiched around a ground out to make it 2-1. Biondo and Dixon each singled with one out in the bottom of the sixth and came home to score on a
Destiny Ojigoh double down the left field line. Shepherd followed with an RBI single up the middle to make it 5-1. Harrison then retired the side in order in the top of the seventh to preserve the win.
Gabby Biondo had two runs,
Kerrigan Dixon had two hits and
Destiny Ojigoh had two RBI in the 6-7-8 slots in the batting order for Emporia State.
Josie Harrison went the distance allowing one run on five hits with four strikeouts and two walks.
Emporia State improved to 10-2 on the season after going 5-1 at both of their season opening tournaments. The Hornets are scheduled to begin MIAA play on Friday, March 12 at Pittsburg State. First pitch of the double header is set for 2:00 p.m. in Pittsburg, Kan.
