HORNETS WINS TWO ON DAY TWO OF ARKANSAS SWING

February 6, 2022-Emporia State combined to score 20 runs in two wins on Sunday in the Ronnie Hawkins/Mike McGhee Memorial Tournament in Arkadelphia, Ark. The Hornets defeated Henderson State 13-1 and came from behind to beat Ark.-Monticello 7-5.
 
ESU 13, HSU 1
The Hornets exploded for eight runs in the first inning on the way to a 13-1 victory over co-host Henderson State in their first game of the day.
 
Emporia State sent 12 batters to the plate in the first inning and scored all eight runs with two outs.  Brittanie Shepherd led off the game with a single. After the next two batters made outs, eight straight Hornets reached base.  Maddie Broxterman got the line moving with an infield single. McKensy Glass followed with a two RBI double just inside the first base bag. Alexis Dial then walked and Karly Johnson singled to deep center scoring two more. Gracie Rabe and Josie Harrison both walked to load the bases before Shepherd singled for the second time in the inning and drove in two more runs. Lexi Williams ended the scoring with a two RBI double off the wall in left field as the Hornets led 8-0 after half an inning.
 
The Hornets would bat around again in the third inning, scoring five runs. Rabe and Harrison led off with back to back singles through the left side. Shepherd then delivered a two RBI single up the middle.  A single from Williams and a hit by pitch to Roni Raines loaded the bases.  With two outs Dial hit into what looked like an inning ending force out but Raines beat the throw to second to keep the inning alive as Shepherd scored.  Karly Johnson followed with a two RBI single as Emporia State took a 13-0 lead after three innings.
 
The Reddies took advantage of two errors in the bottom of the fourth to get on the board on a pinch hit single by Erika Bettinger.
 
Brittanie Shepherd went four for four with four RBI and three runs scored while Karly Johnson was two for four with four RBI and a run scored. Every Emporia State starter scored a run.  Gracie Rabe went the distance in the circle allowing one unearned run on three hits in 5.0 innings.
 
ESU 7, UAM 5
The Hornets had to come from behind for their 7-5 win in the second game after spotting Ark.-Monticello five runs in the first two innings.
 
An RBI single by Bailey Camp and a steal of home by Caroline Tedder gave the Blossoms a 2-0 lead after half an inning.  In the bottom of the inning Brittanie Shepherd got to third base with one out but could not score.
 
With two outs Grace Neal had an RBI single and Haley Cornell followed with a two run single to center give UAM a 5-0 lead.  Emporia State started their comeback in the bottom of the second as Alexis Dial led off with a single and stole second.  Bailey Flewelling double her home to get the Hornets on the board. A walk and hit by pitch loaded the bases and forced a pitching change for UAM.  Lexi Williams greeted Kyann Woods with a single through the left side to make it 5-2.  Abbey Ward drove in Emma Furnish with a fielder's choice and the Hornets trailed 5-3 after two complete.
 
The first three batters reached in the bottom of the third for Emporia State and Flewelling hit a sac fly to pull the Hornets within 5-4.  Alexis Dial scored on a muffed throw by the Blossom third baseman to tie the score.  After another pitching change Shepherd delivered an RBI double to right that gave ESU the lead.  Williams gave the Hornets an insurance run with an RBI single as Emporia State led 7-5 after three innings.
 
Harley Sturm would give up just three hits and three walks in 5.1 innings of relief to pick up her first win in the circle.  Brittanie Shepherd was two for two with two walks, a run and an RBI while Alexis Dial went three for three with two runs scored. Bailey Flewelling had two RBI and a run scored on one hit and Lexi Williams went two for four with two RBI.
 
The Hornets will wrap up their Arkansas road trip on Monday when they take on Cameron at 11:00 a.m.