March 23, 2024-Emporia State came from behind late twice in a double header sweep of Central Missouri on Saturday in Warrensburg, Mo. The Hornets won 9-8 in the matinee and 9-6 in the nightcap.
Game One
Emporia State trailed by three runs twice and were behind by two heading into the seventh inning of their 9-8 win in the first game of the day.
Central Missouri took advantage of two errors in the top of the first to score three runs for an early lead. The Hornets tied the score on a three run inside the park homer by
Alexis Dial in the top of the third inning.
Josie Harrison followed with a double and went to third on a bunt single by
Abbey Ward. Harrison then came home on a delayed double steal when the throw to try and retire Ward was errant.
A walk and two singles by the Jennies tied the score in the bottom of the third and went ahead 7-4 on a three run home run by Taylor Thompson off reliever
Jordan Harrison. Emporia State got two runs back in the top of the fourth inning when Dial doubled to left to score two and get the Hornets within 7-6.
A lead off triple by Aubrie McRoberts and a double by Laney Killpack pushed the Jennies lead back to 8-6 as the Hornets brought
Kelly Hipsher on in relief of
Jordan Harrison. She would retire the next three batters to keep it a two run game going to the seventh.
Dial reached on an error to lead off the seventh and went to second on a single by
Josie Harrison. Ward then laid down a bunt and was able to load the bases on an error when the throw to first was dropped. With two outs and two strikes on her
McKensy Glass sent a grounder to second that could not be fielded and scored two runners to tie the game at 8-8. After a walk to
Haley Garnett reloaded the bases
Emma Furnish reached on a suicide squeeze bunt that plated Ward to give the Hornets a 9-8 lead.
Hipsher allowed two singles in the bottom of the seventh but got a strikeout to end the game and pick up the win.
Alexis Dial was three for four with a homer, double, five RBI and two runs scored while
Haley Garnett went two for three with a walk and two runs scored.
Kelly Hipsher pitched the final 2.0 innings allowing two hits and no runs with three strikeouts for the win.
Game Two
Emporia State used a seven run sixth inning to overcome a six run deficit on the way to a 9-6 win over Central Missouri in the second game.
The Jennies struck first when Taylor Thompson scored on a wild pitch with the bases loaded in the bottom of the first. They went up 2-0 in the second on a Jadyn Sheffield RBI single.
UCM added four unearned runs in the bottom of the third to go up 6-0. Thompson led off with a double and came home on a throwing error when ESU tried to turn a 6-3-5 double play for the first run. After three straight singles loaded the bases Sheffield reached on an error that scored a run to make it 4-0.
Josie Harrison relieved
Jayda VanAckeren in the circle for Emporia State and gave up a two run single to Hayden Serna to make it 6-0 before getting a pop up to end the inning.
Andi Siebeneck had allowed just three hits through the first five innings in the circle for the Jennies.
Emma Furnish led off the top of the sixth with a single and went to second when
Lexi Williams reached on a bunt single.
Alexis Dial got the Hornets on the board with an RBI double and
Josie Harrison followed with a two RBI double to get ESU within 6-3.
Abbey Ward made it three doubles in a row and forced the Jennies to change pitchers. Amanda Hansen relieved Siebeneck and walked
Bailey Flewelling and
Karli Wehunt to force in a run.
McKensy Glass continued her timely late inning hitting and delivered a two run single to center that tied the score at 6-6 and chase Hansen. After a sac bunt by Garnett put runners on second and third, Furnish lifted a fly ball to center and Wehunt was able to score the go ahead run when the Jennies catcher obstructed by blocking the base path.
Josie Harrison retired the side in the bottom of the sixth and then gave the Hornets an insurance run with a lead off homer in the top of the seventh.
Abbey Ward then reached on an error and stole second. With two outs Glass doubled to left field to make it 9-6.
Josie Harrison had another 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the seventh to secure the Hornet win.
Josie Harrison went four for four with a home run, a double, three RBI and two runs while going 4.1 innings in the circle and not allowing a run on just two hits with two strikeouts for the win.
McKensy Glass was two for four with a double and three RBI.
Emma Furnish had the game winning RBI for the second straight game with her sac fly.
Emporia State returns to the Trusler Sports Complex on Friday, March 29 to play Missouri Western. First pitch of the double header is set for 3:00 p.m.
NOTES:
Abbey Ward had three stolen bases on the day and now has 122 in her career. She needs two to tie Morgan Viola's (124 from 2004-07) ESU career record.
