Emporia State Softball Gets 4-1 Win at Rockhurst

April 23, 2024-In their final regular season non-conference game the Emporia State softball team jumped in front early and defeated Rockhurst 4-1 on Tuesday afternoon in Kansas City, Mo.
 
With one out in the first Abbey Ward walked and stole second before Alexis Dial tripled her home for a 1-0 Hornet lead.  Emma Furnish then laid down a bunt and Dial beat the throw home to make it 2-0. Furnish would then steal second and came home on a Bailey Flewelling double to give Emporia State a 3-0 lead after half an inning. The Hornets added another run in the top of third when Dial led off with a walk and scored on Josie Harrison's double to make it 4-0.
 
Gracie Rabe would not allow a hit through the first 3.1 innings.  After Rockhurst got a double and a walk with one out in the fourth Jordan Harrison came on in relief and retired the next six batters as the Hornets took a 4-0 lead into the sixth.  In the bottom of the sixth the Hawks got a one out single from Maya Gallagher followed by a double by Emily Berry to put runners on second and third.  Harrison forced a ground out to second by Jayla Pierce that allowed a run to score, but then got a strikeout to end the inning.
 
Kelly Hipsher came on to start the seventh and worked a 1-2-3 inning for her fifth save of the season. The five saves are the most by a Hornet in the 21^st century.
 
Alexis Dial went two for three with a triple, a walk, a stolen base, two runs and an RBI. The Hornets also got RBI from Josie Harrison, Emma Furnish and Bailey Flewelling with Harrison and Flewelling each hitting doubles.
 
Emporia State is back in action on Saturday, April 27 when they play host to Washburn.  Due to the forecast of rain later in the day, the first pitch of the Senior Day Turnpike Tussle has been moved to 11:00 a.m. at the Trusler Sports Complex.