HORNET SOFTBALL FALLS IN FINAL NON-CONFERENCE ROAD GAMES

March 19, 2022-In their final road non-conference games of the season, Emporia State softball was swept at Drury, falling 2-1 in the first game and 7-1 in the second.
 
Game one
Emporia State's Sydney Righi and Drury's Kristina Bettis were locked in a scoreless pitching duel through the first four innings of the Panthers 2-1 win in the matinee. 
The Hornets finally got on the board in the top of the fifth when Alexis Dial manufactured a run.  She started the inning with a walk and with one out stole second and went to third on a throwing error by the catcher.  Then with two outs she scored on a passed ball to give the Hornets a 1-0 lead.
The Panthers answered with an unearned run of their own in the bottom of the fifth.  Gena Kulberg led off with a double and went to third on a passed ball.  After a ground out held her at third, she scored on Camryn BeDell's infield single. The Panthers would load the bases but Righi got a strike out to leave the loaded and keep the game tied at 1-1.
Drury would get the walk off win in the bottom of the seventh when Kulberg led off with a triple and eventually scored on a wild pitch for the 2-1 victory.  It was the seventh one run loss of the season for Emporia State and the fifth to come in the opponents last at bat.
 
Game two
The Hornets and Panthers were in another tight game until Drury erupted for five runs in the bottom of the sixth in for a 7-1 win.
Drury got on top in the bottom of the first on an RBI ground out by Lauren Beier.  The Hornets would tie the game in the fourth.  Maddy Broxterman led off with a walk and pinch runner Lexi Williams stole second.  Harley Sturm flied out to right allowing Williams to go to third. With two outs Josie Harrison singled in Williams to tie the game at 1-1.
The Panthers retook the lead in the bottom of the fifth on a bases loaded walk by Beier to make it 2-1. Then in the bottom of the sixth they scored five runs on six hits with a Hornet error to take control at 7-1.
 
The Hornets will wrap up their 32 game season opening road trip next weekend, beginning with an MIAA double header at Central Missouri. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m. in Warrensburg, Mo.