Emporia State Softball secures first round bye in MIAA Tournament with win over #24 Washburn

April 27, 2024-Emporia State secured their seed in the MIAA Softball Tournament with a win in the first game of Senior Day at the Trusler Sports Complex but will need to wait until Monday to see if it will be a Turnpike Tussle sweep. The Hornets won game one 6-2 and were leading 4-3 in the sixth inning of game two when it was halted due to weather.

Game 1
The Hornets put five runs on the board in the fifth inning to blow open a close game in a 6-2 Emporia State win in the matinee.
After starter Gracie Rabe stranded two runners in the top of the first the Hornets Lexi Williams singled with one out. With two outs Josie Harrison lined a single to right center and Williams scored from first on a throwing error by centerfielder Ellington Hogle to give Emporia State a 1-0 lead.
A pair of Hornet errors led to an Ichabod run in the top of the second.  Mariah Wheeler led off with a single and stole second.  After a strike out Rabe mishandled a comebacker and Madi Moore to reach and put runners on the corners.  Hogle then reached on an error by McKensy Glass at second base that allowed Wheeler to score and knot the game at 1-1.
It would remain deadlocked until the bottom of the fifth.  Brooke Flewelling led off with a singela dn went to second on a sac bunt by Haley Garnett.  Abbey Ward was hit by a pitch before Williams laced a single up the middle to plate Brooke Flewelling and give the Hornets a 2-1 lead.  Alexis Dial followed with a two run double to left center and Josie Harrison gave the Hornets a 6-1 lead with a homer to left field.
Washburn would get a run back with two outs in the top of the seventh when Alexis Tanguma  reached on an error by Garnett at first that allowed Hailey Neira to score from second.  After a walk Rabe got Jaden LaBarge to flyout to right to end the game.
Josie Harrison went two for three with a home run, two RBI and a run scored while Lexi Williams was two for three with two runs and an RBI. Gracie Rabe went the distance in the circle, allowing two unearned runs on seven hits with two walks and a strikeout.
 
Game 2
Playing in her final game at the Trusler Sports Complex Alexis Dial delivered a bases clearing double to give Emporia State a 4-3 lead in the nightcap before weather forced the teams from the field.
A one out double by Lexi Williams followed by an Alexis Dial single gave the Hornets a 1-0 lead in the first inning.
The Ichabods tied it when Erin Boles singled in pinch runner Ashlynn Wolff and took the lead on a sac fly by Madie Moore that plated Jaden LaBarge in the top of the second. LaBarge came around to score again in the top of the fourth thanks to an Autymn Schreiner single as Washburn took a 3-1 lead.
Jayda VanAckeren relieved starter Jordan Harrison to start the fifth inning and retired the Ichabods in order. With one out in the bottom of the fifth Haley Garnett, Abbey Ward and Williams hit back to back to back singles to load the bases.  Dial then delivered a three run double to left center that cleared the bases and gave the Hornets a 4-3 lead.
Van Ackeren gave up two singles to start the top of the seventh but left them stranded as she retired the next three Ichabods in order.  McKensy Glass led off the bottom of the sixth and had a 2-2 count when the game was halted due to lightning in the vicinity.  Heavy rains started shortly after the delay started and after a 1:17 delay the game was halted and will be resumed on Monday at 3:00 p.m.