February 18, 2023-Emporia State split a pair of games on Saturday in the ESU Classic at the Trusler Sports Complex. The Hornets defeated Sioux Falls 4-1 in the home opener before fall 11-2 in five innings to Winona State in the night cap.
Game One
Emporia State got another complete game from
Josie Harrison in a 4-1 win over Sioux Falls in the Hornets home opener.
Sioux Falls got on the board first thanks to a two out RBI double by Kylie Madrid in the top of the first inning. Emporia State tied it up in the bottom of the second when
McKensy Glass singled in
Roni Raines.
The Hornets took the lead in the fifth. Haley Garrett led off with a walk and pinch runner
Savanna Schenkel stole second before going to third on a wild pitch. She was able to beat out the throw to the plate when
Emma Furnish hit a grounder to short. The throw got away from the catcher an allowed Furnish to go to second.
Lexi Williams drove her in with a single to give ESU a 3-1 lead.
Emporia State picked up an insurance run in the sixth as
Alexis Dial walked, stole second and came home a double by Raines.
That was enough for
Josie Harrison who went the distance in the circle allowing one run on five hits with six strikeouts.
Game Two
The Hornets gave up five runs in the first and six in the third of an 11-2 loss to Winona State in the nightcap.
Gracie Rabe struck out the first batter she faced but an infield single and hit batter followed by an RBI single from Marissa Mullen gave the Warriors a 1-0 lead. With two outs Libby Neveau singled to make it 2-0. Two walks made it 3-0 before Macy Brodin hit a two RBI single to give Winona State a five run lead.
Jayda VanAckeren came on in relief and after another walk was issued got out of the inning with a flyout.
Emporia State took advantage of walks in the bottom of the frame to get on the board.
Abbey Ward and
Lexi Williams opened the inning with walks and each moved up on a wild pitch.
Ari Cordova hit a deep sacrifice fly to plate Ward and get the Hornets on the board.
Alexis Dial's dribbler in front of the plate was mishandled by the catcher and allowed Williams to score to make it 5-2.
VanAckeren worked a scoreless second and the Hornets got their first two batters on to start the bottom of the inning but a line drive double play killed the momentum.
Winona State took advantage of two errors and three walks in the top of the third to plate six runs and blow the game open.
Roni Raines and
Sophia Rockhold each went two for two for the Hornets in the loss.
Emporia State will be back in action on Sunday, February 19 when they play host to Minnesota State-Mankato. First pitch is scheduled for 12:15 p.m. on Turnbull Field at the Trusler Sports Complex in the second game of Sunday's action in the ESU Classic
