EMPORIA STATE SOFTBALL SPLITS DAY ONE IN ARKADELPHIA

February 5, 2022-Emporia opened the 2022 season with a split on the first day of the Ronnie Hawkins/Mike McGhee Memorial Tournament in Arkadelphia, Ark. The Hornets defeated Ouachita Baptist 4-1 in the opener before falling 7-6 to Oklahoma Baptist in the second game.
 
ESU 4, OBU 1
Emporia State started the day with a 4-1 win over tournament co-host Ouachita Baptist.
 
The Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a sac fly by Jillian Jones to give OBU a 1-0 lead. The Hornets tied the score in the third when Brittanie Shepherd doubled in Lexi Williams.
 
Emporia State took the lead in the fifth as Williams scored again, this time on a single by Roni Raines to give the Hornets a 2-1 lead. The Hornets added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh when Shepherd singled in Williams and went to third on an error.  Raines then grounded out to score Shepherd and give Emporia State a 4-1 lead.  Sydney Righi sat down the side in order in the bottom of the seventh to give the Hornets the season opening win.
 
Lexi Williams scored three runs on one hit while Roni Raines was two for four and credited with two RBI.  Brittanie Shepherd went two for three with a run scored and an RBI.  Sydney Righi went the distance in the circle, allowing one unearned run on two hits.
 
OKBU 7, ESU 6
The Hornets surrendered five runs in the top of the seventh, then had the tying run on base with no outs in the bottom of the inning but could not get the run home in a 7-6 loss to Oklahoma Baptist in the second game of the day.
 
Sheyanne Sandoval put the Bison ahead 1-0 with a solo homer in the top of the first but Alexis Dial answered with a two run double in the bottom of the inning to put the Hornets up 2-1.  Lexi Williams then made it 4-1 Hornets with a two run homer to right in the bottom of the second.
 
OBU got a run back in the top of the fourth on a solo home run by Mia Moddelmog.  Emporia State answered in the bottom of the fifth when Hannah Kaler hit a sac fly to score Brittanie Shepherd. That was followed by an RBI triple by Dial that scored Abbey Ward for a 6-2 Hornet lead.
 
Alexis Dial went three for four with three RBI, a double and a triple while Lexi Williams was one for three with a two run home run.
 
The Hornets are back in action on Sunday when they play tournament co-host Henderson State at 11:00 a.m. and Ark.-Monticello at 1:00 p.m.
 
The Bison would score five runs in the top of the seventh thans to four Hornet errors.  The inning started with Emily Smith reaching on a throwing error from shortstop.  Sammie Greene then walked before Adi Reese singled to score Smith and chase Emporia State starter Josie Harrison.  Brylie Bassett came on in relief and both runners advanced on a throwing error from the catcher.  Sandoval took advantage with a single up the middle that scored two to make it 6-5.  After a ground out Emily Richardson was hit by a pitch and both runners advanced on a passed ball.  Jocee Sparks then reached on a throwing error from shortstop that allowed two runs to score and give OBU a 7-6 lead.   Gracie Rabe relieved Bassett and got a fielder's choice and a ground out to end the inning. 
 
Roni Raines led off the bottom of the seventh with a single but failed to advance on two strikeouts before pinch hitter McKensy Glass flew out to end the game.