March 15, 2024-Emporia State rallied late twice to record a double header sweep of Northeastern State on Friday afternoon at the Trusler Sports Complex. The Hornets came from four runs down in the fifth to win 7-6 in the matinee and then came from three runs down in the sixth to force extra innings and win 8-7 in walk off fashion in the night cap.
Game 1
Northeastern State sent eight batters to the plate and scored four runs with two outs in the top of the first to get in front early in the opener.
Abbey Ward walked to lead off the bottom of the first and promptly stole second. It was her 119
th career steal and tied her with Jessica Wiard for second all-time at Emporia State in stolen bases. She went to third on a single by
Lexi Williams and scored on an Alexi Dial sac fly to get the Hornets on the board.
Gracie Rabe relieved
Jordan Harrison after a lead off double by the RiverHawks Addy Wolfe in the third. A single and an error scored Wolfe and with one out Raegan Edwards singled in Madison Heinle to give Northeastern State a 6-1 lead.
The Hornets began to chip away in the fourth inning when
Bailey Flewelling doubled to right and went to third on a wild pitch with one out. She came home and RBI ground out by
Haley Garnett to get ESU within 6-2.
Emporia State scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth to take the lead. The inning started with
Josie Harrison reaching on a throwing error. She would go third on a double by
McKensy Glass before
Emma Furnish reached on an infield single to third to load the bases. Ward reached on fielding error by the pitcher that plated Harrison and kept the bases loaded. Williams followed with another infield single bringing home Glass to make it 6-4. Dial had the big hit of the inning as her single up the middle scored two runs and tied the game at 6.
Avery Brewer delivered the game winning RBI with a sac fly to center that scored Williams and put Emporia State ahead 7-6.
Rabe then shut down Northeastern State, allowing just a hit and a walk in the final two innings to pick up the win.
Alexis Dial was one for two with three RBI in her return to the starting lineup after being limited to pinch hitting duties the last two games due to an injury.
Lexi Williams was two for three with a a run scored and an RBI.
Gracie Rabe threw 5.0 innings in relief, allowing one run on three hits with four strikeouts and one walk.
Game 2
The RiverHawks started off hot again in the nightcap, scoring three runs in the top of the first. This time the Hornets responded immediately when
Abbey Ward singled and went to second on a walk by
Lexi Williams.
Alexis Dial then sent a slow roller back to the pitcher, with no one covering first she tried to throw behind Ward at third and ended up allowing two runners to come home and Dial to go to second. Dial would tie the game when she came home on a ground out by
Josie Harrison to make it 3-3.
Emporia State took the lead in the bottom of the second on an RBI double by
Emma Furnish to make it 4-3. Northeastern opened the top of the fourth with a double by Emily Sampson followed by a hit batter. Reagan Edwards put the RiverHawks back in front with a three run homer to right field to make it 6-4. They added what seemed to be an insurance run in the top of the sixth. After
Kelly Hipsher relieved
Jayda VanAckeren in the circle, Northeastern State got a single and double to put runners at second and third. Drew Hawkins hit a comebacker to the circle and Hipsher's attempted scoop and toss was not in time to get Edwards at the plate as NSU took a 7-4 lead.
The Hornets got a run back in the bottom of the sixth thanks to a sac fly by
Emma Furnish that scored pinch runner
Juliana De Luna. Emporia State would load the bases with two outs before Madison Heinle came on in relief and got a strike out to end the inning. Hipsher then retired the side in order in the top of the seventh to give the Hornets a chance.
Bailey Flewelling led off with a single and with one out
Avery Brewer reached on an infield single when she reached on dribbler down the first base line. After a wild pitch moved the runners up and a strike out brought ESU to their final out,
McKensy Glass laced a single to left field scoring two and tying the game at 7-7.
Gracie Rabe came in to start the top of the eighth and worked a 1-2-3 inning for the Hornets in the circle. Williams worked a walk to lead off the bottom of the eighth and went to second on a sac bunt by Dial.
Bailey Flewelling delivered the walk off win with a single up the middle that plated Williams for the 8-7 win.
McKensy Glass was one for two with two RBI and a run scored while
Emma Furnish went one for two with a walk and two RBI.
Gracie Rabe worked a scoreless eighth inning to pick up her second win of the day.
Emporia State is back in action on Saturday when they play host to #3 Rogers State. First pitch of the double header is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. at the Trusler Sports Complex.
