March 13, 2024-Emporia State softball split a non-conference double header with Drury on Wednesday afternoon at the Trusler Sports Complex. The Hornet dropped game one 3-1 before taking a 6-3 win in the second game.
Game 1
The Hornets were held to one run on five hits in a 3-1 loss to Drury in the matinee.
The Panthers took advantage of a lead off error in the top of the third to take a lead. After Brooklyn LaChappa reached on an error Rylee Kolb brought her home with a one out double to right center. Taylor Hartsell followed with a single that plated Kolb to give Drury a 2-0 lead after three innings.
Emporia State got on the board in the fourth when
Bailey Flewelling hit a two out double and went to third on a single by
Haley Garnett.
Emma Furnish singled up the middle to drive in Flewelling and make it 2-1 with two runners on. Kristina Bettis came in the circle in relief and got two strikeouts to end the Hornet threat.
Emporia State would load the bases in the bottom of the fifth thanks to two hit by pitches and a bunt single but would not score to keep it 2-1 headed into the sixth inning. In the top of the sixth Drury's first two batters were hit by pitch and LaChappa was able to give them an insurance run with a single to center field with two outs.
Abbey Ward was hit by a pitch in the bottom of the seventh and stole second but was ultimately stranded as the Hornets lost game one 3-1.
Bailey Flewelling went one for two with a double, a walk and a run scored while
Emma Furnish was one for three with an RBI.
Gracie Rabe went the distance in the circle, allowing three runs, two of them earned, on six hits with three strikeouts.
Game 2
The Hornets got the offense going at the end of the second game as they won 6-3 over the Panthers in the night cap.
Drury took the lead in the top of the first thanks to a pair of unearned runs with two outs. With two outs Taylor Hartsell reached on dropped throw at first base. A single by Lauren Beier put two on for AJ Agers who hit a single up the middle that plated two before she was thrown out trying to go to second on a single up the middle.
Emporia State cut the lead in half in the bottom of the second without the benefit of a hit.
Haley Garnett walked, followed by
Abbey Ward,
Josie Harrison and McKenzie Glass each getting hit by a pitch. A fielder's choice and ground out ended the inning as the Hornets left the bases loaded.
The Panthers extended their lead with an unearned run in the top of the fifth. With two runners on and two outs Maggie McKee scored on a throwing error while trying to steal third, but Rylee Kolb was thrown out trying to advance as well to keep it 3-1going to the bottom of the fifth.
Emma Furnish led off the fifth by reaching on an error and went to third o a single by
Lexi Williams.
Bailey Flewelling tied the game with a two run single to right center.
Josie Harrison then reached on an error with two outs that plated pinch runner
Kylie Chester to give ESU a 4-3 lead.
The Hornets added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth,
Karli Wehunt, who came in when Glass was hit by the pitch in the second, worked a walk and went to third when
Alexis Dial delivered a pinch hit single to left. After a sac bunt advanced both runners Williams hit a safely to left to plate Wehunt.
Bailey Flewelling wrapped up the scoring with a single through the left side that scored
Juliana De Luna.
Jayda VanAckeren then worked a perfect seventh to end the game and give the Hornets a 6-3 win.
Bailey Flewelling was three for four with three RBI while
Lexi Williams and
McKensy Glass each had RBI. Jayda Van Ackeren went the distance in the circle, allowing three unearned runs on five hits with three strikeouts.
The Hornets will be back in action on Friday when they return to MIAA play against Northeastern State. First pitch of the double header from the Trusler Sports Complex is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
Notes:
Abbey Ward had one stolen base in the double header and now has 118 in her career. She needs one steal to tie Jessica Wiard (119 SB from 2005-08) for second on the Emporia State career list and six to tie Morgan Viola (124 SB from 2004-07) for the ESU career record.
