April 12, 2023-Emporia State ran their winning streak to eight games and set the school team record for stolen bases in a season during a double header sweep of Rockhurst on Wednesday afternoon at the Trusler Sports Complex. The Hornets won game on 4-2 and took the second game 6-1.
Game One
The Hornets scored three runs in the fifth for a 4-2 come from behind victory in the matinee.
Ari Cordova gave Emporia State a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third with a two out RBI double that scored
Haley Garnett. The lead would hold up until Maya Gallagher hit a two run home run in the top of the fifth to give the Hawks a 2-1 lead. After two walks
Gracie Rabe relieved starter
Jayda VanAckeren and got the final two outs to end the inning.
The Hornets used their speed to retake the lead in the bottom of the fifth. With one out
Alexis Dial tripled and came home on
Roni Raines single to tie the game.
Abbey Ward followed with a walk. With two outs Cordova laid down a bunt and Rockhurst catcher Clare Reinhart threw the ball away trying to get her out and allowed both Raines and Ward to score to give Emporia State a 4-2 lead.
Rabe then put up zeros in the last two innings to post her 11th win of the season.
Ari Cordova and
Haley Garnett each went two for three with Cordova recording an RBI and Garnett a run scored.
Roni Raines was one for three with a run and an RBI. Jayda Van Ackeren only allowed one hit and two walks over the first four innings before giving up two runs on a home run and three walks in the fifth.
Gracie Rabe pitched the final 2.2 allowing just one hit and a walk to pick up the win.
Game Two
Emporia State got ahead early and cruised to their eighth straight win in a 6-1 victory in the nightcap.
The Hornets speed again led to runs in the bottom of the first. After a lead off walk to
Roni Raines,
Abbey Ward reached on a fielder's choice when she beat out the throw from second. She then stole second and would come home on a single from
Haley Garnett. The right fielder bobbled the ball allowing Garnett to get all the way to third.
Sophia Rockhold followed with a triple to drive in Garnett and give Emporia State a 2-0 lead.
A three run third inning put the Hornets up 5-0. Ward started things with a one out double and went to third on a wild pitch before Garnett walked to put runners on the corners. A double steal allowed Ward to score and gave Emporia State a school record 127 stolen bases for the season. With two outs
Emma Furnish drilled an RBI single up the middle to make it 4-0 before
Josie Harrison blooped an RBI double down the right field line and gave the Hornets a 5-0 lead.
Jayla Pierce got Rockhurst on the board with a solo home run with one out in the top of the sixth.
Sydney Righi then came in for starter
Josie Harrison and got two outs to end the inning.
Walks by
Alexis Dial and
Lexi Williams put two runners on with one out in the bottom of the sixth for Emporia State.
Bailey Flewelling followed with a pinch hit double that scored Glass and gave the Hornets a 6-1 lead. Righi then tossed a 1-2-3 seventh as the Hornets won their eighth straight game.
Sophia Rockhold went two for three with a triple and an RBI while
Abbey Ward and
Haley Garnett both scored two runs.
Josie Harrison started and scattered six hits over 5.1 innings allowing one run for the win.
Sydney Righi ended the game retiring five straight batters.
After an eight game home stand the Hornets will hit the road this weekend for MIAA play at Pittsburg State and Missouri Southern. First pitch on Friday at Pittsburg State is set for 3:00 p.m.
NOTES
The eight game winning streak is the longest streak by Emporia State since they won 12 straight on the way to the 2018 MIAA Tournament championship.
Emporia State now has 127 stolen bases in 42 games to break the previous school record of 126 set in 58 games during the 2011 season.
