Emporia State Completes Sweep of #24 Washburn with 5-4 Win in 8 Innings

April 29, 2024-After a 48 hour delay due to weather, Emporia State pulled out a 5-4 win over #24 Washburn in eight innings on Monday afternoon at the Trusler Sports Complex.

The game was resumed after being halted due to extreme weather in the bottom of the sixth inning on Saturday with the Hornets leading 4-3 in the bottom of the sixth.  When play resumed Emporia State was retired in order by Ichabod pitcher Jaycee Ginter.   In the top of the seventh Marrit Mead hit a lead off homer to tie the game at 4-4 before Jayda VanAckeren retired the next three batters to end the inning.

Emporia State was retired in order in the bottom of the seventh to send the game to extra innings.  Jaden LaBarge led off the top of the eighth with a double that brought Kelly Hipsher on in relief in the circle for the Hornets. After a sac bunt moved LaBarge to third Madi Moore worked a four pitch walk to put runners on the corners with one out. The Ichabods sent Moore from first and Bailey Flewelling threw her out at second and Abbey Ward fired the ball back to Flewelling who was able to tag out LaBarge for an inning ending double play.

Josie Harrison led off the bottom of the eighth with a single through the right side and was replaced by pinch runner Julianna DeLuna. Emma Furnish laid down a sac bunt to put DeLuna on second and Bailey Flewelling hit a fly ball to deep center that allowed DeLuna to go to third.  With two outs McKensy Glass was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners.  Brooke Flewelling then worked a full count before lacing a single into left field that plated DeLuna and gave the Hornets a 5-4 win and sweep of the Turnpike Tussle.
 
The teams started the day with Emporia State leading 4-3 following a weather delay from Saturday. A one out double by Lexi Williams followed by an Alexis Dial single gave the Hornets a 1-0 lead in the first inning on Saturday.

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.
 
Alexis Dial was two for four with a double, and four RBI.  Lexi Williams went two for four with a double and two runs scored. Kelly Hipsher faced two batters in 1.0 inning of work to pick up the win.
Emporia State will open play in the MIAA Tournament on Thursday at 4:00 p.m. against Central Oklahoma in Edmond, Okla.