April 12, 2022-Emporia State suffered a pair of late inning losses to Rockhurst in non-conference action on Tuesday night at the Trusler Sports Complex. The Hawks won game on 3-1 and took the second game 8-7 in eight innings.
Game one
With the wind blowing in on Turnbull Field at the Trusler Sports Complex runs were going to be at a premium in the opener as Emporia State's
Josie Harrison and Rochurst's Bre Barchak took shutouts into the fifth inning.
The Hawks got on the board first in the fifth inning. Back to back singles by Allison Shakiba and Calli Wibbenmeyer started the inning and the each advanced on a sac bunt. Josie Lindemann then fouled out to deep right field and Shakiba beat the throw to the plate to give Rockhurst a 1-0 lead. The Hornets tied the score in the bottom of the inning.
Karly Johnson worked a walk to lead off the inning and
Lexi Williams ran for her. Williams promptly stole second and was able to come around to score when
Bailey Flewelling's sac bunt resulted in a throwing error by the pitcher.
Wibbenmeyer led off the top of the seventh with a single to second and Emily Clark followed with a hard hit ball to third.
Harley Sturm, who came on in relief in the sixth, got a strikeout before issuing back to back walks as Rockhurst took a 2-1 lead. Sturm got another strikeout before Gwen Bostwick laced a single through the left side that scored Clark before
Alexis Dial threw out Shelby Winkelman at the plate trying to score from second to keep it a two run game.
Flewelling reached on an error by the Hawks first baseman to open the bottom of the seventh and went to second on a ground out, but would be stranded there to end the game with the tying run at the plate.
Game Two
The teams were able to adjust to the wind in the nightcap as they combined for 15 runs on 20 hits with six errors.
The Hornets got on the board in the bottom of the first.
Brittanie Shepherd reached on an error by the pitcher and advanced to second.
Lexi Williams followed with an infield single to put runners on the corners before
Abbey Ward walked to load the bases.
Maddy Broxterman hit a sac fly to center to plate Shepherd but Williams was out going to third for a double play.
Bailey Flewelling gave Emporia State a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning when she doubled in
McKensy Glass and
Alexis Dial. The Hornets added three runs with two outs in the bottom of the fifth. Ward singled to right and went to second on an infield single by Broxterman.
Harley Sturm singled to left center and went to second on the throw as Ward scored. Glass then hit a ball to third and the throw went in the dugout allowing Sturm and Dial to score and give Emporia State a 6-0 lead going to the sixth.
Rockhurst took advantage of five walks in the top of the sixth to score six runs and tie the game at 6-6. The Hawks would go up 7-6 in the top of the seventh when Maya Gallagher doubled and Jaden Santoni scored on a throwing error from left field. The Hornets sent the game to extra innings when Ward led off the bottom of the seventh with a single to left, stole second, went to third on a ground out and scored when
Josie Harrison reached on a fielding error by the Hawks shortstop.
Using the international tie breaker to start the eighth, Wibbenmeyer was placed on second to start the inning. She was still there two outs later before Winkelman singled down the left field line and with two outs Wibbenmeyer scored to give the Hawks an 8-7 lead. Flewelling was placed on second to start the bottom of the eighth and
Sydney Righi walked to lead off the inning. Shepherd then hit into a double plat that advanced Flewelling to third. Williams walked to put runners on the corers before Ward grounded out to end the game.
Emporia State will return to MIAA play on Friday when they play host to Pittsburg State. First pitch for the double header from the Trusler Sports Complex is set for 3:00 p.m.
NOTES
The Hornets have lost ten games by one run and seven in their opponents last at bat.
