April 25, 2022- Emporia State had a dramatic walk off win in game one before falling by a run in game two of a split with Northeastern State on Monday afternoon at the Trusler Sports Complex. The Hornets won the matinee 10-8 in eight innings before falling 2-1 in the nightcap.
Game One
Jayda VanAckeren got the win in relief and provided the game winning home run in the Hornets 10-8 walk-off win in the opener.
The Hornets got on top early thanks to a three run home run from
Maddy Broxterman in the first inning.
The RiverHawks would take advantage of two errors in the outfield with two outs to score six runs in the top of the third inning. But Emporia State would answer with three of their own in the bottom of the third.
Abbey Ward singled to left to open the inning and then stole second and third, coming home on a throwing error by the RiverHawk catcher.
Josie Harrison would tie the game with a two run home run to make it 6-6.
Brittanie Shepherd doubled with one out in the fourth and would score when
Lexi Williams hit a ground ball down the third base line that bounced off the base into short left field. Shepherd came home as Williams beat the throw to second base to give the Hornets a 7-6 lead.
Northeastern State tied it again in the top of the fifth on an RBI single by Carly Kelley.
Brylie Bassett relieved Hornet starter
Gracie Rabe and got a strikeout to end the inning.
Neither team would score in the sixth or seventh to send the game to extra innings. With runners at first and third Addy Wolfe delivered an RBI single to put the RiverHawks up 8-7. VanAckeren then relieved Bassett and got two ground outs around a walk to keep it a one run game going to the bottom of the eighth.
Josie Harrison led off with a double down the left field line pinch hitter
Sophia Rockhold beat out a chopper up the middle to put runners on the corners. On a 2-2 count VanAckeren blasted a ball over the fence in centerfield to give the Hornets the 10-8 walk off win.
Broxterman was one for two with two walks, a home run, three RBI and two runs scored while Harrison went two for four with a homer, a double, two RBI and two runs scored.
Game two
Two solo home runs by the RiverHawks cost the Hornets in the nightcap and overshadowed a great performance in the circle by the Hornets
Sydney Righi.
Sydney Balderrama homered with two outs in the top of the third to give Northeastern a 1-0 lead.
Emporia State would tie the game with two outs in the top of the fifth.
Lexi Williams laid down a bunt and then stole second.
Abbey Ward then singled through the left side and Williams came home to score and tie the game at 1-1. With two outs in the top of the sixth Addy Wolfe homered to left field to put Northeastern State up 2-1.
Emporia State had runners at second and third with one out in the bottom of the sixth and could not score. In the bottom of the seventh Ward walked and stole second with two outs to put the tying run in scoring position but a second walk off was not in the cards.
Righi went the distance in the circle allowing two runs on five hits with eight strikeouts and just one walk.
The Hornets will wrap up the regular season on Saturday, April 30 with a Senior Day Turnpike Tussle against Washburn. First pitch of the double header is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at the Trusler Sports Complex.
