February 13, 2022-Emporia State went 1-2 on the final day of the Alvy Early Classic in Bentonville, Ark. The Hornets defeated Upper Iowa 7-3, with losses to top ranked UT-Tyler 8-4 and 3-2 to Southeastern Oklahoma.
#1 UT-Tyler 8, Emporia State 4
The top ranked Patriots got on the board first in the bottom of the third. Ashley Perez drove in the first run with a one out single. Back to back doubles by Michelle Arias and Amanda Marek made it 4-0 after three. The Hornets answered with one in the top of the fourth.
Brittanie Shepherd and
Josie Harrison started the inning with two singles and
Alexis Dial got Shepherd home on a fielder's choice out at second. The inning ended with a strike her out, throw her out double play.
McKensy Glass drove in
Karly Johnson with a single in the top of the fifth to pull Emporia State within 4-2. The Patriots added three runs on just two hits in the bottom of the fifth to go up 7-2. In the top of the sixth Shepherd and Harrison led off with back to back doubles to score one run and chase UTT starter Payton Foster.
Alexis Dial greeted reliever Sarah Gartman with an RBI single to make it 7-4. The Patriots added an unearned run thanks to a single, error and wild pitch in the bottom of the sixth for the final score.
Alexis Dial was two for three with two RBI,
Brittanie Shepherd went two for three with two runs scored and
Josie Harrison was two for three with a run and an RBI.
Harley Sturm went the distance in the circle giving up eight runs, six of them earned on 11 hits.
Emporia State 7, Upper Iowa 3
The Hornets posted a come from behind win in their second game.
Karly Johnson tripled and scored in the top of the third to give Emporia State a 1-0 lead. Katie Crogan hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the inning as the Peacocks went ahead 3-1 after three.
Brittanie Shepherd and
Maddy Broxterman opened the top of the fourth with singles and with one out
Josie Harrison singled to load the bases. After a short flyout Johnson cleared the bases with a double to give the Hornets a 4-3 lead.
Lexi Williams would reach on an error that allowed Johnson to score as Emporia State took a 5-3 lead into the bottom of the fourth.
Jayda VanAckeren shut out Upper Iowa on just one hit over the final four innings. Emporia State would tack on two more runs in the top of the seventh when Williams led off with a triple and came home on a two out double by Shepherd. Broxterman followed with another RBI double for the final score of 7-3.
Both Shepherd and Broxterman went three for four with a double, a run and an RBI while Johnson was two for three with three RBI, two runs, a double and a triple.
Southeastern Oklahoma 3, Emporia State 2
A late home run cost the Hornets in a 3-2 loss to Southeastern Oklahoma in their final game at the Alvy Early Classic.
Emporia State got in front early with two runs in the top of the first.
McKensy Glass reached on a one out single and went to third on a double by
Brittanie Shepherd.
Maddy Broxterman drove in the first run with an RBI ground out and
Alexis Dial delivered an RBI single to give the Hornets a 2-0 lead after half an inning.
The Savage Storm cut the lead in half in the bottom of the third on a sac fly from Cheyenne Mahy that scored Kamryn Rackley. They tied it in the bottom of the fifth when Gracie Ore drove in Rackley and chase Hornet starter
Sydney Righi.
Brylie Bassett came in and got the final two outs to end the inning.
Kyia Monahwee gave SEOSU the lead with a one out solo homer in the bottom of the sixth.
Josie Harrison singled to start the seventh and went to second on a sac bunt but would be stranded their as Emporia State fell 3-2.
Emporia State is scheduled to host their own tournament next weekend beginning on Friday at the Trusler Sports Complex. The first game for the Hornets is set for 2:30 p.m. against Quincy on Turnbull Field.
