March 12, 2022-Emporia State was swept on Saturday at #10 Central Oklahoma in Edmond, Okla. to open MIAA play. The Hornets fell 8-0 in the opener and 7-2 in the nightcap.
Game One
The Bronchos scored seven runs in the bottom of the first inning on the way to an 8-0 win in five innings in the matinee.
The first two batters walked in the bottom of the first and after a sac bunt Jacee Minter hit a homer to left center. Two more walks and three singles led to four more runs being scored with two outs as Central Oklahoma led 7-0 after one inning.
Two Emporia State errors in the bottom of the third led to the eighth UCO run.
Brittanie Shepherd got the first hit for Emporia State in the top of the fourth when she tripled to left center field.
Gracie Rabe, who came in to pitch with two outs in the first, got the other hit for the Hornets with a single in the top of the fifth.
Game Two
Central Oklahoma took advantage of four unearned runs in the nightcap as they pulled out a 7-2 win.
Emporia State left two runners on base in the top of the first. The Bronchos scored a single run in the bottom of the first when Brighton Gilbert reached on an error, went to second on a single, then to third on a fielder's choice before scoring on Terin Ritz's single with two outs.
The Hornets tied it up with two outs in the top of the third.
Abbey Ward singled and scored on
Harley Sturm's double to right center to make it 1-1 going to the bottom of the third. UCO answered with three run in the bottom of the third to go back up 4-1.
Emporia State got one of those runs back in the top of the fifth.
Lexi Williams walked with one out and stole second.
Brittanie Shepherd then hit a comebacker to the pitcher who went to third for the second out of the inning. Shepherd tried to take second on the fielder's choice and UCO's throw from third went into right field allowing her come all the way around to score and make it 4-2.
After a
Hannah Kaler single lead off single in the top of the sixth,
Alexis Dial reached on a fielder's choice to bring the tying run to the plate with one out, but Dial was caught stealing and
Karly Johnson struck out to end the threat. In the bottom of the inning a two out error kept the inning alive before Jacee Minter hit a three run home to center field to give UCO a 7-2 lead.
Abbey Ward was three for three with a double and a run scored in the nightcap.
Emporia State will be back in action on Sunday when they travel to Newman for another MIAA double header. First pitch if game one in Wichita, Kan. is set for 12 noon.
