February 27, 2023 – Emporia State softball stretched their winning streak to six games as they swept a doubleheader against St. Cloud State with a 3-1 win in game one and a 6-5 walk-off win in game two.
Game One
St. Cloud State took their lone lead of the afternoon in the first inning of game one as they started the game with a leadoff double and eventually scored on a passed ball.
The Hornets wasted little time taking the lead as they scored a pair of runs in the bottom half of the first inning.
Following consecutive outs to start the inning,
Ari Cordova reached base on a hit by pitch before
Haley Garnett homered to left field to put Emporia State ahead 2-1.
Both the Hornets and Huskies settled into a pitcher's duel with
Gracie Rabe holding the Emporia State lead throughout the game.
From the second inning onward, Rabe allowed just one hit and one runner to reach second base.
Emporia State was able to double their advantage in the sixth inning with an insurance run with a two-out RBI single from
Emma Furnish to score
Lexi Williams.
Rabe closed out the Huskies in order in the seventh inning as she clinched a complete game and her fourth win of the season.
Emma Furnish went 3-4 with an RBI and
Haley Garnett went 1-2 with two RBI, a run scored and a walk.
Game Two
The Hornets took control of game two early as they held the Huskies scoreless in the opening frame before scoring two runs in the bottom of the first with back-to-back RBI's by
Abbey Ward and
Ari Cordova as Emporia State led 2-0 through one inning.
Emporia State doubled their advantage in the fourth inning as
Alexis Dial singled to left center to drive in two runs as the Hornets held a 4-0 lead through four innings.
St. Cloud State scored three runs in the fifth inning to close the Hornet lead to 4-3 before
Haley Garnett extend the lead to 5-3 with an RBI groundout to score Cordova in the bottom half of the inning.
Following another rally by the Huskies in the sixth inning, Emporia State and St. Cloud State entered the seventh inning tied 5-5.
The Hornets were able to strand a St. Cloud State runner in the top of the seventh and came to the plate in the bottom half with a chance to clinch the doubleheader sweep.
Haley Garnett drew a one-out walk to start the rally before
Savanna Schenkel entered the game to pinch run for Garnett. Schenkel was able to steal second base to enter scoring position.
The Huskies were able to get the second out before
McKensy Glass stepped to the plate and singled into right field to score Schenkel and give Emporia State the 6-5 walk-off victory in game two.
Seven different Hornets recorded a hit in game two with
Ari Cordova and
Lexi Williams both recorded two hits of their own.
Emporia State will return to action on Tuesday, March 7 against William Jewell. The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m. from Turnbull Field.
