April 9, 2022-Emporia State broke out the bats in a double header split at Fort Hays State on Saturday afternoon. The fell 7-6 in the opener before posting an 8-0 win in the nightcap.
Game One
The Hornets scored three runs in the first and three in the seventh but the Tigers had seven in between in a 7-6 Fort Hays State win in the double header opener.
Emporia State took advantage of three walks to take a 3-0 lead after half an inning.
Brittanie Shepherd and
Abbey Ward opened the game with back to back singles. With one out
Maddy Broxterman walked to load the bases and after the second out
Sydney Righi walked to drive in the first run of her career.
Karly Johnson worked another walk to make it 2-0 and chase Tiger pitcher Savanah Egger.
Emma Furnish greeted reliever Morgan Schmidt with a single that plated Broxterman but Righi was called out at the plate on the play to end the inning.
Fort Hays State would answer with four runs in the bottom of the second. Regan and Reese Curry each singled to start the inning and each advanced a base on a ground out. Jessica Espinoza hit a ground ball to second and Regan Curry broke for home.
McKensy Glass fielded the ball and ran at Curry before throwing home for an apparent out but obstruction was ruled on Hornet catcher
Bailey Flewelling for blocking the plate to get the Tigers on the board. Adyson Burghart then dropped a single in between Glass and Furnish in short right field that allowed Reese Curry to score. Glass tried to get Espinoza going to third but the throw was off allowing her to score and tie the game at 3-3. With two outs Madison Pierce doubled to score Burghart and give Fort Hays State a 4-3 lead after two innings.
The Tigers would get single runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to go up 7-3 headed to the seventh. Ward and
Harley Sturm walked to open up the top of the seventh before Broxterman launched a three run home down the left field line to pull the Hornets within 7-6. Glass followed with a single through the left side and Fort Hays State brought Egger back in to pitch for Schmidt. She was able to retire the next three batters to preserve the win.
Broxterman went two for two with a home run, two walks, three RBI and two runs scored while Ward was two for three with two runs scored.
Game Two
Gracie Rabe got her first complete game shutout in the nightcap as the Hornets defeated the Tigers 8-0.
Emporia State exploded for six runs with two outs in the second inning to take control of the game. Rabe started things with a single up the middle and she went to second on a walk by
Karly Johnson.
Emma Furnish then laced a two run triple to left center to put Emporia State up 2-0.
Brittanie Shepherd then singled in Furnish to make it 3-0.
Abbey Ward singled to put runners on the corners and Savanah Egger relieved FHSU starter Bailey Carlson. Egger hit
Roni Raines to load the bases and
Maddy Broxterman singled through the left side to score two more. With
Alexis Dial at the plate Broxterman and Raines executed a double steal with Raines scoring on a muffed throw by the Tiger shortstop as Emporia State took a 6-0 lead.
That was more than enough for Rabe in the circle but the Hornets would add single runs in the sixth and seventh as insurance. In the sixth Furnish and Shepherd singled with two outs and Furnish was able to score on a double steal when the catchers throw went into left field trying to get her at third. The Hornets scored their final run in the seventh and for the first time came with less than two outs. With one out, Dial at third and
Harley Sturm at second Karley Johnson laid down a sac bunt and Dial was able to score to make it 8-0.
Rabe scattered six hits over seven innings with three strikeouts and four walks for her first career shutout. Broxterman was two for four with two RBI while Shepherd was three for four with a run and an RBI.
The Hornets will return to the Trusler Sports Complex for their final 12 games starting with a non-conference double header against Rockhurst on Tuesday, April 12. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m.
