EMPORIA STATE SOFTBALL SPLITS DOUBLE HEADER WITH LINCOLN

April 10, 2021-Emporia State split a double header against Lincoln on Saturday afternoon, winning the first game 8-4 and falling 10-5 in the second game.
 
Game One
Emporia State scored seven unanswered runs on the way to an 8-4 win in the matinee.
Emily Williams gave Lincoln a 2-0 lead with a double in the first and Leslie Callahan had a RBI single in the second to put the Blue Tigers up 3-0. 
Destiny Ojigoh doubled in Brittanie Shepherd to get the Hornets on the board in the second.  Emporia State would score five runs in the third to take a 6-3 lead. Roni Raines hit a two run homer to tie the game and pinch runner McKensy Glass scored on a wild pitch to give the Hornets a 4-3 lead.  Ojigoh capped the scoring in the inning with a two run double to make it 6-3 after three innings. 
Emporia State added a run in the bottom of the fourth.  With the bases loaded and one out Kerrigan Dixon hit a ground ball to short. The Blue Tigers got the out at second and tried to turn the double play but the throw hit Kelsey Phillips who was running from first.  After consultation Dixon was called out for interference by Phillips and the run from third was allowed to score.
Lincoln got a run back in the top of the sixth when Alex Miller reached on an error allowing Jordan Hollon to score to make it 7-4.  The Hornets got the run back in the bottom of the inning on a sac fly by Raines that plated Abbey Ward.  Brylie Bassett, who came on to start the fifth after Phillips was hit with the ball running the bases, retired the Blue Tigers in order in the seventh to earn the save.
Destiny Ojigoh went two for three with three RBI while Roni Raines was one for three with three RBI.  Kelsey Phillips went 4.0 innings allowing three runs on six hits with two strikeouts. Bryie Basset worked the final 3.0 innings and gave up one unearned run on one hit with four strikeouts.
 
Game Two
Lincoln had two big innings and Emporia State could not come back from them in a 10-5 loss in the nightcap.
Alivia Rymer gave Lincoln a 1-0 lead with a solo homer in the second before the Blue Tigers scored five runs in the third. The Hornets got two runs back in the bottom of the third on a Gabby Biondo RBI single and she would eventually steal home to make it 6-2.  Biondo got another RBI single in the fourth that pulled Emporia State within 6-3.
The Blue Tigers then erupted for four runs on five singles and a hit batter in the top of the sixth to go up 10-3.  The Hornets tried to rally in the bottom of the seventh. Brittanie Shepherd doubled with one out and went to third on a ground out by Kerrigan Dixon.  Destiny Ojigoh then doubled to right center scoring Shepherd.  Maddie Broxterman followed with a pinch hit double to score Ojigoh but that would be the end of the comeback.
Gabby Biondo went three for four with two RBI and a run scored for Emporia State.
 
The Hornets will be back in action on Friday, April 16 when they play host to #18 Central Oklahoma.  First pitch of the double header is set for 3:00 p.m.