Split for Hornet Softball in Final MIAA Road Trip to Lincoln

March 22, 2024-In their last conference trip to Jefferson City, Emporia State came away with a split on Friday of their MIAA double header at Lincoln. The Hornets won game one 3-2 before falling 4-3 in nine innings in the second game.
 
Game One
The Hornets scored early and then held on for a 3-2 win over the Blue Tigers in the matinee.
Emma Furnish led off with a walk, stole second and socred on an Alexis Dial ground rule double to give Emporia State a 1-0 lead after half an inning.
They added two more in the second inning thanks to an RBI ground out from McKensy Glass that scored Abbey Ward and an RBI single by Furnish that plated Josie Harrison.
The Hornets would take the 3-0 lead into the seventh inning as starter Gracie Rabe held the Blue Tigers scoreless through the first 6.2 innings. With two outs in the seventh Abbi Conrad hit a double that scored two.  Jordan Harrison then relieved Rabe and got a fly out to record her first save.
Emma Furnish went two for three with two stolen bases, a run scored and an RBI.  Brooke Flewelling was two for two with a pair of doubles. Gracie Rabe scattered nine hits over 6.2 innings while allowing just two runs to pick up the win.
 
Game Two
Emporia State fell behind early and clawed back to force extra innings before Lincoln pulled out a 4-3 win in nine innings.
The Hornets got on the board first when Lexi Williams walked and stole second with one out and then came home on a Josie Harrison single for a 1-0 lead headed into the bottom of the first.
The Blue Tigers scored three runs, two of them unearned, in the bottom of the first to take a 3-1 lead. After a hit batter, single and walk loaded the bases Gabby Newman hit a sac fly to even the score at 1-1.  With runners on second and third and two outs, Torri Hinnah hit a rocket to first that bounced off Haley Garnett and into right field, allowing two runs to score.
The Hornets got one run back in the top of the fourth when Williams worked a bases loaded walk that plated Garnett to make it 3-2.
Williams would lead off the top of the seventh with a single and advanced all the way to third on a sac bunt by Furnish. Josie Harrison followed with an RBI single to tie the score at 3-3. After a pitching change by Lincoln Harrison stole second to put the go ahead run in scoring position with one out but Kasey Kilburn got two strikeouts to end the inning. Jordan Harrison, who came on in relief of ESU starter Jayda VanAckeren in the second, got around a lead off single to send the game to extra innings.
The Hornets had a runner in scoring position in the top of the eighth and the ninth but could not score a run. In the ninth Emma Furnish led off with a single and with one out Alexis Dial walked but the Blue Tigers were able to turn a 5-3 double play to end the inning. After a lead off double in the bottom of the ninth Jordan Harrison got two strikeouts before Leslie Callahan delivered a walk off single to end the game.
Josie Harrison was three for five with a triple and two RBI, Lexi Williams was one for three with two walks, two runs scored and an RBI while McKensy Glass went two for three. Jordan Harrison gave up one run on four hits over 7.2 innings with seven strikeouts and three walks as she took the loss.
 
Emporia State is back in action on Saturday when they travel to Warrensburg, Mo. to take on Central Missouri. First pitch from the South Recreation Complex is set for 12:00 p.m.