March 30, 2024-The Emporia State softball team split their double header with Northwest Missouri on Saturday afternoon at the Trusler Sports Complex. The Hornets won game one 7-3 before falling 2-1 in the second game.
Game One
Emporia State ran their home field winning streak against Northwest Missouri to 13 games with a 7-3 come from behind win in the matinee at Turnbull Field.
The Hornets would get on the board first in the bottom of the second.
Emma Furnish was hit by a pitch, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and then scored on a throwing error that allowed
Bailey Flewelling to reach base.
The Bearcats scored three runs thanks to an Abby Nolte two run home run and a solo shot by Annie Gahan in the top of the fourth. ESU responded quickly in the bottom of the inning.
Josie Harrison led off with a double and went to third when Furnish reached on a bunt single. With two outs
McKensy Glass singled to center scoring two to tie the game at 3-3.
Jayda VanAckeren, who had entered the game in the top of the fourth, shut down NWMSU with two strikeouts and a ground out in the fifth.
Lexi Williams then led off the bottom of the fifth with a single and scored on
Alexis Dial's triple.
Josie Harrison followed with an RBI single and would come home on Furnish's two RBI homer to right field to give the Hornets a 7-3 lead. VanAckeren ended up retiring nine in a row before giving up a two out single in the seventh. After the single she got a ground out to end the game.
Emma Furnish went two for two, was hit by a pitch, with a home run, a stolen base, three runs and two RBI.
Josie Harrison was two for four with a double, two runs and an RBI.
Jayda VanAckeren pitched the final 3.1 innings to pick up the win, allowing just one hit and one walk.
Game Two
Emporia State had two errors in the game and left five runners on base in the final three innings of a 2-1 loss to Northwest Missouri in the nightcap.
Alexis Dial doubled with two outs in the first and went to third when
Josie Harrison reached on a passed ball on strike three that kept the first inning alive.
Emma Furnish then laid down a perfect bunt that scored Dial for a 1-0 Hornet lead after one inning.
The Bearcats tied things with an unearned run of their own in the third inning. Annie Gahan singled and went to second on a throwing error to lead off the inning. Lillie Filger then singled through the left side and advanced to second when the ball was bobbled in left field, allowing Gahan to score.
Abbey Ward kept it tied when she cut down Filger trying to score from third on a ground ball to short. Northwest took the lead on a two out RBI single by Gahan in the top of the fourth.
Two walks to start the inning and a fielding error by the pitcher with one out loaded the bases for the Hornets in the fifth, but they would not be able to capitalize. In the seventh
McKensy Glass worked a lead off walk and pinch runner Julianna De Luna went to second when
Haley Garnett reached on a fielding error by the pitcher on a sacrifice bunt attempt.
Abbey Ward sacrificed them over to put the winning run in scoring position.
Lexi Williams then hit a ground ball to first and De Luna was out trying to score before Dial popped out to end the game.
Emma Furnish went two for three with an RBI in game two.
Gracie Rabe went the distance, allowing two runs, one of them earned while scattering nine hits and striking out four in 7.0 innings.
The Hornets will go back out on the road next weekend when they travel to Fort Hays State and Neb.-Kearney. First pitch of Friday's double header against FHSU in Hays, Kan. is set for 2:00 p.m.
