April 30, 2022-Emporia State finished out the regular season with a pair of losses to Washburn on Saturday afternoon at the Trusler Sports Complex, yet qualified for the MIAA Tournament next weekend. The Hornets lost game one 5-1 and fell 13-3 in the second game.
Game One
Washburn scored three runs in the first inning and maintained the lead on the way to a 5-1 victory in the matinee.
A walk and two singles to start the game loaded the bases before Ashton Friend hit an RBI ground out to third. With two outs Hadley Kerschen singled just inside the bag at first to drive in two runs and give the Ichabods a 3-0 lead.
Brittanie Shepherd led off the bottom of the first with a double and with two outs
Maddy Broxterman singled to score her and get the Hornets on the board.
The Hornets loaded the bases in the third but were not able to get a run across. Then in the top of the fourth Washburn added two runs on a sac fly from pinch hitter Kaylee Wagner and an RBI single by Marrit Mead to take a 5-1 lead.
Emporia State loaded the bases with out in the bottom of the seventh.
Karly Johnson led off with a double and Shepherd followed with a single and went to second on the throw to put runners at second and third with no outs. With one out
Abbey Ward was hit by a pitch to load the bases but the Hornets were not able to convert as Washburn took the 5-1 win.
Brittanie Shepherd and
Lexi Williams each went two for four.
Game Two
Washburn used a five run third and a four sixth to secure the 13-3 run rule victory and secure the MIAA regular season championship.
Marrit Mead led off with home run and Jaden LaBarge had an RBI double to give the Ichabods a 2-0 lead after half an inning. They went up 4-0 on back to back RBI doubles from Mead and Paige Robbins in the top of the second. Washburn scored five runs on six hits off three different Emporia State pitchers in the top of the third to take a 9-0 lead.
With two outs in the bottom of the fourth
Harley Sturm tripled and came home on
McKensy Glass' double to put the Hornets on the board.
Bailey Flewelling followed with an RBI single to make it 9-2.
Maddie Stipsits hit a bases loaded triple in the top of the sixth and scored on Mead's ground out to give Washburn a 13-2 lead. The Hornets manufactured one more run in the bottom of the sixth when
Alexis Dial singles and advanced to third on back to back ground outs. Flewelling then singled to center to score her for the final score of 13-3.
Bailey Flewelling was two for three with two RBI in game two.
Despite the losses Emporia State qualified for the MIAA Tournament thanks to a loss by Newman on Saturday. The Hornets will play their first round game on Wednesday, May 4 in Edmond, Okla.
