February 11, 2023-Emporia State softball swept two games on Saturday at the Lubbock Sports College Invitational on Saturday. The Hornets defeated Chadron State 3-0 and then run-ruled Texas-Permian Basin 15-7 in five innings.
Game One
Josie Harrison tossed a one hitter and
Ari Cordova had three hits as the Hornets shutout Chadron State 3-0 in their first game of the day.
Roni Raines drove in the first run of the game when she reached on a fielder's choice that scored
Abbey Ward in the top of the first. Cordova gave the Hornets an insurance run in the top of the third with an RBI single that plated
Lexi Williams.
Alexis Dial hit a solo homer in the fourth for the final run of the game.
That was more than enough for Harrison who went the distance in the circle. She gave up just one hit with three walks and four strikeouts. The Eagles were never able to get more than one runner on base in an inning against her.
Game Two
Emporia State had to come from behind twice in their second game of the day, a 15-7 run rule win over UT-Permian Basin in five innings.
The Falcons scored two runs in the top of the first but the Hornets responded with five in the bottom of the inning.
Alexis Dial and
McKensy Glass had back to back two RBI singles to give ESU a 4-2 lead.
Bailey Flewelling capped the first inning scoring with an RBI single as the Hornets led 5-2 after one.
Ronie Raines singled in
Ari Cordova in the second to put Emporia State up 6-2 but UTPB got a pair of two run homers in the top of the third to tie the game at 6-6. The Hornets left the bases loaded in the bottom of the third and the Falcons took advantage with a single run in the top of the fourth to go up 7-6.
Flewelling tied it for the Hornets with a lead off home run in the bottom of the fifth.
Emma Furnish then doubled followed by an infield single from
Abbey Ward and a walk to
Lexi Williams to load the bases. Cordova cashed in with a grand slam to left that gave the Hornets an 11-7 lead with no outs. Dial would manufacture a run on her own by walking, stealing second and going to third on a passed ball before scoring on a double steal with Glass. Two more walks loaded the bases and Glass came home on a wild pitch to make it 13-7. After Ward was hit by a pitch to reload the bases, Williams worked a walk to drive in
Josie Harrison and make it 14-7. The game ended on a wild pitch that allowed Furnish to score and make it 15-7 in the bottom of the fifth.
Ari Cordova was two for four with four RBI, a double, a home run and three runs scored to lead the Hornet offense.
Alexis Dial and
McKensy Glass each had two RBI and two runs scored.
Gracie Rabe picked up the win in relief, giving up just two hits in 1,0 inning of work with a strikeout.
The Hornets will wrap up their trip to Texas on Sunday with a double header against Adams State. First pitch of game one is set for 11:00 a.m. in Lubbock, Texas.
