ROAD SWEEP FOR EMPORIA STATE SOFTBALL AT LINCOLN

March 26, 2022-Emporia State went on the road and picked up a double header sweep at Lincoln on Saturday afternoon. The Hornets won game one 8-3 and 7-2 in the finale.
 
Game One
Emporia State used two big innings to post an 8-3 victory in the matinee.
Josie Harrison got the Hornets on the board with a sac fly in the second that scored Alexis Dial.  The Blue Tigers responded with an unearned run in the bottom of the second to tie the game at 1-1.  Emporia State answered with three runs in the top of the third to take the lead for good.  Roni Raines had an RBI single while Dial and Maddy Broxterman each scored when Harley Sturm reached on an error by the left fielder to make it 4-1.
Karly Johnson gave the Hornets a 5-1 lead with a lead-off home run in the top of the fourth. They would add three more runs in the inning on a two RBI single by Raines and a Broxterman RBI double to go up 8-1.  Alivia Rymer hit a solo homer in the fifth for Lincoln and Chloe Olson drove in a run with a bases loaded walk in the seventh for the final score of 8-3.
Roni Raines was three for four with three RBI while Alexis Dial was two for four with two runs scored.  Sydney Righi picked up the win going 5.2 innings and allowing two runs, only one earned, on fivehits with six strikeouts. 
 
Game two
Emporia State came from behind with five runs in the final two innings for a 7-2 win in the nightcap.
Lincoln scored single runs in the first and third innings to go up 2-0 headed into the fourth. Maddy Broxterman singled in Roni Raines in the top of the fourth to get the Hornets on the board and she would eventually score on a sac fly by Alexis Dial to tie the score at 2-2.
Dial gave Emporia State the lead in the top of the sixth with a three run homer to make it 5-2.  The Hornets then picked up a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh.  Emma Furnish doubled to lead off the inning and went to third on a sac bunt.  She stayed at third on an infield single by Abbey Ward. The two then pulled off a double steal with Furnish scoring and Ward advancing to third on a throwing error by the catcher.  Raines then laid down a sacrifice squeeze bunt to plate Ward and give the Hornets a 7-2 lead going to the bottom of the seventh.
Alexis Dial was one for one officially with four RBI on a home run and sac fly. Maddy Broxterman was two for four with two runs and an RBI. Harley Sturm tossed 3.1 shutout innings in relief to pick up the win. She allowed one hit and two walks while striking out one.
 
The Hornets will wrap up the weekend, and a 32 game road trip to open the season, on Sunday with a double header at Central Missouri.  First pitch from the South Rec Complex in Warrensburg, Mo. is set for 12:00 p.m.