WINNING STREAK ENDS AT SIX AS EMPORIA STATE SOFTBALL FALLS TO MISSOURI WESTERN

April 2, 2022-Emporia State had the tying run at the plate in their final at bat in both games but saw their six game winning streak come to an end with a pair of losses to Missouri Western on Saturday afternoon at the Trusler Sports Complex.
 
Game 1
The opener was a pitchers' duel with one swing of the bat being the difference in a 2-1 loss to Missouri Western.
Brea Blanton broke a scoreless tie in the third inning with a two run home run to give the Griffons a 2-0 lead.  Emporia State got on the board in the sixth when Abbey Ward singled and stole second, then came home on Maddy Broxterman's RBI double to make it 2-1.  With two outs in the bottom of the seventh McKensy Glass hit a pinch hit triple to put the tying run at third but was stranded there as the Hornets saw their six game winning streak come to an end.
Gracie Rabe went the distance allowing just two runs on four hits with five strikeouts and one walk. Maddy Broxterman was two for three with a double and the Hornets lone RBI. Sydney Rader allowed just one run on five hits with eight strikeouts in the circle for Missouri Western.
 
Game 2
After just three runs and nine combined hits in the opener, the two teams passed that total by the end of the second inning in a 9-7 Missouri Western win in the night cap.
The Griffons scored three runs on a lead off home by Sydni Hawkins and two run triple by Rachel Stewart.  The Hornets answered with three of their own in the bottom of the inning. Harley Sturm doubled in Brittanie Shepherd and Alexis Dial followed her with a two run double to tie the game 3-3.
Brea Blanton broke the tie with a one out homer in the second and Chloe Armstrong singled in Kalyn Damgaard to make it 5-3 going to the bottom of the second.  McKensy Glass got a run back for the Hornets with an RBI single in the bottom of the second. Lexi Williams tied the game with an RBI single in the bottom of the third to make it 5-5.
Hawkins hit her second home of the game, this time a two run shot, to give Missouri Western a 7-5 lead and Armstrong hit the Griffons fourth home run of the game to make it 8-5 going to the bottom of the fourth. Glass pulled the Hornets within a run on a two run home run in the fourth inning that scored Abbey Ward.
Western got an insurance run in the sixth on a passed ball to go up 9-7.  Sturm tripled to lead off the bottom of the seventh to bring the tying run to the plate but the Hornets could not convert as they fell 9-7.
McKensy Glass went two for three with a home run, three RBI and a run scored.  Harley Sturm was three for three with an RBI and a run scored.  The Hornets used three pitchers with Sydney Righi taking the loss in relief after giving up three runs on three hits in 1.2 innings.
 
Emporia State will be back in action next weekend in their final road trip of the regular season. They will play at Neb.-Kearney on Friday and Fort Hays State on Saturday.