February 17, 2024 – Emporia State softball opened the ESU Classic with a 13-6 win over Wayne State on Saturday afternoon from Turnbull Field in their home opener.
Wayne State got the game started with a leadoff single in the top of the first and after two consecutive outs, the Wildcats used back-to-back singles to take a 1-0 lead over Emporia State in the first.
After the Hornets retired the Wildcats, they quickly answered in the bottom half.
Abbey Ward got the inning started with a leadoff double and then stole third.
Lexi Williams followed with a walk and a stolen base of her own to put two runners in scoring position for
Alexis Dial who doubled to drive in Ward and Williams and put Emporia State in front 2-1 through the first.
Despite a two-out walk in the top of the second, Emporia State started
Jordan Harrison kept Wayne State off the board to bring the Hornets back to the plate as they expanded on their lead.
In the bottom of the second, the Hornets used five hits to score five runs and take a 7-1 lead over Wayne State. The inning was highlighted by RBI doubles from
Emma Furnish and
Abbey Ward and a two RBI single from
Bailey Flewelling.
Following a three-up, three-down top of the third from
Jordan Harrison, the Hornets added four more runs in the bottom half.
An RBI triple from
Emma Furnish followed by a sacrifice fly from
Abbey Ward put the Hornets ahead 9-1 and after a bunt single from
Lexi Williams,
Alexis Dial homered to extend the Emporia State advantage to 11-1 through the third.
Both teams were held scoreless in the fourth before Wayne State cut the deficit in half with a five run fifth inning.
The Hornets used RBI singles in the bottom of the sixth from
Haley Garnett and
Emma Furnish to boost their lead to 13-6 heading into the final frame where
Gracie Rabe recorded two strikeouts and retired the Wildcats in order as Emporia State took home the win on day one of the ESU Classic.
As a team, the Hornets tallied 16 hits and five doubles in the game with
Abbey Ward,
Alexis Dial and
Emma Furnish each having three-hit games. Dial drove in four runs, Furnish drove in three runs and Ward had two RBI of her own.
Emporia State will return to action on Sunday, February 18 for day two of the ESU Classic with matchups against UMary and Wayne State. First pitch against UMary in game one is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on Turnbull Field.
