Those wondering if the Emporia State softball team was still top dog in the MIAA received their answer on Saturday afternoon.
And they received it in rather convincing fashion.
In a battle of first-place teams, the No. 6 Hornets dominated, taking 9-0 and 10-2 run-rule victories over Central Missouri at Trusler Sports Complex.
“I hope it lets everyone else know that we’re for real,” ESU senior Megan Davison said. “If they thought there wasn’t a dominant team in the MIAA, I hope they see that it’s us now.”
The Hornets certainly played like a dominant team, putting themselves in ideal position to win the conference’s regular-season championship outright.
The first game was in doubt for only a few minutes, as ESU used three walks, three hits and a hit batter to produce seven runs in the bottom of the first.
The big blow came from Chelsea McClernon, who provided a three-run triple in her second at-bat of the inning.
“We came out offensively just really aggressive and hitting the ball well,” ESU coach Kristi Bredbenner said. “I was really happy for the girls.”
ESU tacked on a single run in the second, as Davison ignored a steady breeze blowing in and launched a solo home run over the fence in left field.
The homer — her 50th — puts her just one behind the all-time MIAA record set by Truman’s Elizabeth Economon.
“With the wind today, I didn’t think I was really going to get a chance to get a hold of one like that,” Davison said. “I got a good piece of it, and luckily the wind wasn’t blowing as bad that time around.”
The support would be more than enough for Courtney Reed, who struggled with four walks but still maintained a complete-game shutout. She allowed just two hits and struck out six.
UCM (24-18, 9-3 MIAA) actually grabbed 1-0 and 2-1 leads in Game Two before ESU broke the game open.
The key hit came from Lacey Pendry, who entered in the second inning as a pinch hitter with the bases loaded and two outs.
On a 3-2 pitch, Pendry lined a single into left field, scoring a pair of runs to give ESU the lead back at 3-2.
“I just kind of tell myself to relax up there because there’s no reason to put pressure on myself,” Pendry said. “I know that (pinch-hitting)’s my role, so I try to get it done.”
ESU starter Samantha Sheeley effectively stayed out of trouble from there, holding UCM scoreless the rest of the way.
The junior allowed one earned run in five innings, walking three and striking out six.
The Jennies stranded eight runners in the second game.
Davison led ESU in the twinbill, going 4-for-6 with two RBI and three runs scored. She was a perfect 3-for-3 in Game Two.
McClernon and Morgan Viola also added three hits each, and Bredbenner picked up her 100th career coaching victory.
ESU (38-8, 11-1 MIAA) will travel to Missouri Southern on Tuesday for a doubleheader.
Saturday at Emporia
Game One
ESU 9, UCM 0 (5 innings)
Central Missouri 000 00 — 0 2 2
Emporia State 711 0X — 9 6 1
W — Reed. L — Holland.
E — UCM: Bauer; Hollenbach; ESU: Dace. LOB — UCM 5; Hornets 3. 3B — ESU: McClernon. HR — ESU: Davison. HBP — ESU: Pfautsch. SF — ESU: Dace. SB — ESU: Wiard; Campbell; Pfautsch. CS — UCM: Selby.
Game Two
ESU 10, UCM 2 (5 innings)
Central Missouri 110 00 — 2 3 4
Emporia State 122 14 — 10 10 2
Note: 2 outs, 2 runners LOB when the game ended.
W — Sheeley. L — Wagaman.
E — UCM: Whitcomb; Young; Hollenbach; Bauer; ESU: Dace; Sheeley. LOB — UCM 8; Hornets 9. 2B — UCM: Young; Adams; ESU: Davison 2; Viola. HBP — UCM: Bauer; ESU: Huddleston; Stevens; Pfautsch. SH — ESU: Wiard; Dace. SB — ESU: Viola.