February 19, 2024-Emporai State ran their winning streak to eight games with a pair of victories on Monday to wrap up the ESU Classic at the Trusler Sports Complex. The Hornets defeated UMary 9-1 in five innings and then took down Sioux Falls 3-2 in the finale.
ESU 9, UMary 1 (5 innings)
The Hornets scored in every inning of their 9-1 win over UMary to start the day. After
Jordan Harrison retired the side in the top of the first Emporia State got on the board in the bottom of the inning on an
Avery Brewer single that scored
Alexis Dial. The Hornets added two more runs in the bottom of the second. With the bases loaded
Alexis Dial singled scoring
Emma Furnish and
Abbey Ward before
Lexi Williams was thrown out at home trying to score from first.
Karli Wehunt singled in two in the bottom of the third thanks in part to another error by the Mauraders in the outfield as Emporia State went up 5-0.
Back to back RBI singles by
Bailey Flewelling and
Avery Brewer gave the Hornets a 7-0 in the bottom of the fourth. Wehunt then hit a sac fly to score
Kylie Chester, who was running for Brewer, to make it 8-0 headed to the fifth inning. With two outs in the top of the fifth Mckenzie Reinhardt hit a homer down the left field line to keep the game going. It did not last much longer though as Williams led off the bottom of the fifth with a triple and Dial drove her home with an sac fly to end the game at 9-1.
Avery Brewer was three for three with two RBI and a run scored,
Alexis Dial went two for two with a double, two RBI and two runs scored while
Lexi Williams was two for four with a triple and two runs.
Jordan Harrison went 5.0 innings allowing just one run on two hits with no walks and three strikeouts. She retired ten straight Marauders between the second and fifth inning.
ESU 3, Sioux Falls 2
The Hornets completed an undefeated home stand with a 3-2 win over Sioux Falls in the final game of the ESU Classic.
For the fifth straight game Emporia State scored in the first inning.
Abbey Ward manufactured the run for the Hornets with an infield single, then stole second and went to third on a throwing error by the catcher before scoring on a wild pitch. USF tied the game with a single run in the top of the second and the teams would stay tied until the bottom of the fourth.
With two outs in the fourth
Josie Harrison singled up the middle and scored on a
Brooke Flewelling triple to right field.
McKensy Glass followed with a single to right center that plated Flewelling and gave ESU a 3-1 lead. Sioux Falls cut the deficit in half in the top of the sixth with a walk and then RBI single by Damaris Cuevas and had two runners on before
Gracie Rabe got a comebacker to the circle for the final out. After a scoreless bottom of the sixth by Emporia State Rabe worked a 1-2-3 seventh getting a ground out to short, a strike out and a ground out to second to end the game.
Brooke Flewelling was one for two with a triple, an RBI and a run scored while
Abbey Ward and
Josie Harrison both went one for three with a run scored.
Gracie Rabe went the distance in the circle, scattering five hits and allowing two runs with three strikeouts and a walk.
The Hornets will be back in action on Friday, February 23 when they travel to Topeka, Kan. to take part in the Washburn Invitational. Emporia State will play Minot State at 10:00 a.m. followed by Minnesota State at noon at Lake Shawnee.
NOTES
The Hornets have now won 17 straight games at the Trusler Sports Complex dating back to last season. It is the longest home game winning streak by Emporia State since winning 19 straight from April 24, 2009-May 14, 2010.
The Hornets' current eight game overall winning streak is the longest active streak in the MIAA.
Emporia State's eight game winning streak is the fourth best active streak in the nation in Division II and their 17 game home field winning streak is the fifth best active streak in the nation.
