April 21, 2023-Emporia State took the defending national champions to extra innings in the first game before falling in both ends of a double header at Rogers State on Friday. The Hornets lost 5-3 in eight innings in game one and 5-2 in game two.
Game One
The Hornets came from behind to take a lead in the eighth before a pair of two run homers in the bottom of the inning gave the Hillcats a 5-3 walk off win in the matinee.
Emporia State's
Gracie Rabe and Rogers State Sara Llamas-Howell were locked in a pitchers duel to start the game. Rabe retired the first ten batters she faced before the Hillcats got an unearned run in the bottom of the fourth. Nicole Price reached on an error and went to third on the first hit of the game by Bridgett Morales. Price scored when Abbey Rogers sent a ball to right field and
Emma Furnish threw a laser to second to force Morales as Price scored.
Although Llamas-Howell hit a batter and issued a walk, she had a no hitter going into the fifth inning. Furnish broke up the no-hitter with a single down the left field line and went to second when
Lexi Williams beat out a bunt single. After Furnish was thrown out trying to come home following a throwing error on a stolen base attempt,
Bailey Flewelling walked to load the bases.
Alexis Dial then singled to right to tie the score.
It remained tied at 1-1 into the eighth inning. With two outs in the top of the eighth
Roni Raines reached on a fielding error by the Hillcat shortstop.
Ari Cordova walked and
Josie Harrison was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Emma Furnish then delivered a two-run single to center before she was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double as the Hornets took a 3-1 lead to bottom of the eighth.
Ashtyn Barrett singled to lead off the inning and Lana Gass homered to tie the score at 3-3. Paxton Donaldson singled between two outs and Morales gave Rogers State the walk off win with a two out, two RBI home run to right center.
Furnish would go two for three with two RBI for the Hornets. Rabe went the distance in the circle, scattering six hits while allowing five runs, four of them earned, in 7.2 innings pitched.
Game Two
Emporia State out hit Rogers State 10-4 but two home runs led to a 5-2 Hillcat victory in the nightcap.
Sydney Righi did not allow a hit to the first ten batters she faced but an error, fielder's choice and single put two runners on base with two outs in the bottom of the third. Abbey Rogers broke the scoreless tie with a two run single. Then with one out in the bottom of the fourth Ashtyn Barrett hit a solo home run that led to a pitching change.
Jayda VanAckeren came on in relief and would retire the next five batters she faced. Rogers State got a walk and fielder's choice to start the sixth inning before Jaylan Gibson hit a two run homer to give the Hillcats a 5-0 lead.
Emporia State had a runner in scoring position in each of the first six innings but were unable to score until the seventh. With one out in the top of the seventh
Bailey Flewelling singled and
Alexis Dial followed with a two run homer to left to get the Hornets on the board and avoid the shutout.
Alexis Dial would finish two for three with a home run, stolen base, two RBI and a run scored.
Sydney Righi took the loss, allowing three runs on just three hits in 3.1 innings.
The Hornets are back in action on Saturday when they travel to Northeastern State. First pitch of the doubleheader in Tahlequah, Okla. is set for 1:00 p.m.
