April 7, 2025-Emporia State were out hit 27-7 by Central Missouri in a double header sweep by the Jennies on Monday at the Trusler Sports Complex. UCM won game one 7-2 in nine innings before taking the nightcap 6-2.
Game One
In what was a pitchers duel for eight innings, Central Missouri exploded for five runs on six hits in the ninth inning for 7-2 victory in the matinee.
Gracie Rabe retired the Jennie in order in the top of the first before
Taryn Burkhardt gave the Hornets a lead in the bottom of the frame. She worked a lead off walk and with one out stole second and was able to come all the way around to score when the throw from the catcher bounced off her foot in left field.
Rabe scattered four hits through the first five innings and got some solid defense to keep UCM scoreless. In the top of the fifth Maris Johnson reached on a one out double but was thrown out by
Kinsey Perine when she tried to score on a Aly Hageman's single to right.
Back to back bunt singles followed by a one out single through the left side loaded the bases for the Jennies in the top of the sixth. Taylor Thompson laced a double down the third base line that scored two but the third run was cut down at the plate thanks to a great relay by
Sydney Wagner from
Juliana De Luna to make it 2-1.
Jayda VanAckeren come on in relief of Rabe and got a fly out to end the inning.
Brooke Flewelling led off the bottom of the seventh with a four pitch walk, went to second on a sac bunt by
Leslie Ramos and took third on a wild pitch. After a walk to pinch hitter
Grace McCarty, Flewelling scored to tie the game on a ground out by
Kinsey Perine when the UCM catcher was called for obstruction. Back to back walks loaded the bases but De Luna ground out to second to leave them loaded.
Flewelling, the Hornets leader in home runs and starter at third base, was injured on the scoring play and was replaced in the field in extra innings, forcing the Hornets to shake up their infield defense. It didn't matter in the eighth as VanAckeren sat down the Jennies in order.
Kennedy Topping, who came into the game to replace Flewelling, got a two out single in the bottom of the eight for the Hornets but that would be all.
Morgan Shields homered to lead off the top of the ninth to give the Jennies a 3-2 lead. A double and single led to
Jordan Harrison coming on in relief of VanAckeren. Another walk loaded the bases before Brooke Weimer singled in a run as Perine threw Emma McCall out at second from right field on the play to keep it a 4-2 game. UCM scored on a bunt single from Lexi Blackman and with two outs Bailey Brumley singled in two more to make it 7-2.
The Hornets were retired in order in the bottom of the ninth as they fell to 2-3 in five extra inning games this season.
Game Two
The Hornets were no hit through four innings in a 6-2 loss in the nightcap.
Jordan Harrison was in one out, a bases loaded situation in the top of the fiers but got a strikeout and ground out to leave the loaded. She would retire eight straight going into the top of the fourth. Taylor Thompson led off the fourth with a double and pinch runner Carly Youngblood scored on a single by Morgan Shields to break the scoreless tie. Marisa Johnson followed with a homer to right center to give UCM a 3-1 lead. Harrison then got a foul out and two strikeouts to end the inning.
In the top of the fifth the Jennies loaded the bases with one out and got an RBI single to make it 4-0. The Hornets got on the board in the bottom of the fifth.
Ally Miller singled up the middle and with one out pinch runner
Kylie Chester stole second. With two outs Brenley Smith laced an RBI single to right center.
Gracie Rabe came in to start the sixth in relief of Harrison and got the first two batters out. Bailey Brumley reached when the throw on her ground ball to short was high pulled Brewer off the bag. Jadyn Sheffield beat out an infield single and Brumley hit a two run triple to left center to make it 6-1.
The Hornets got a run in the bottom of the seventh thanks to a De Luna double, a sac bunt by Miller and an RBI ground out by pinch hitter
Jayda VanAckeren.
The Hornets will be back in action on Friday, April 11 when they travel to Northwest Missouri. First pitch of the double header from Bearcat Softball Field in Maryville, Mo. is set for 2:00 p.m.
