Linda Ketter says she doesn’t have the mindset of a power hitter.
“You can’t really go up to look for a home run,” the ESU second baseman said. “Then, you won’t even hit the ball.”
Though the freshman might not have been looking for home runs, they still seemed to find her in the third inning of a 24-0 Emporia State victory over Minnesota-Crookston.
After blasting a grand slam to left-center, Ketter came up again with two outs and two runners on in the same inning.
This time she connected on a blast to center, clearing the temporary fence for a three-run shot to give the Hornets a 17-0 lead.
In the one inning alone, Ketter had two home runs and seven RBI.
“We know that she’s going to go out there and give 100 percent,” ESU coach Kristi Bredbenner said. “It’s awesome to see it work out the way that it did today.”
Ketter, who had only three at-bats in the 21 games coming in, picked up her first hit of the season with a double in ESU’s 13-0 Game One victory over Minnesota-Crookston.
She raised her average to .500 and her slugging percentage to 1.667 with the three extra-base hits Thursday.
“Being a freshman, it’s really exciting,” Ketter said. “Everyone’s really supportive because I don’t get to hit all the time. It’s exciting to get big hits.”
Not to be outdone was Shelbe Hughes, who also posted a pair of homers in the sweep.
The eight-hole hitter had a two-run homer in the first game before connecting on a three-run shot in the second.
“I just try to get base hits every time I get up,” Hughes said. “Linda and I were both apparently seeing the ball really well today.”
ESU (17-6) dominated both games from the beginning, allowing just one hit overall in the home-opening twinbill.
Minnesota-Crookston, meanwhile, played in its first two games of the season.
“They haven’t been outside all year in Crookston. They’re living up an hour away from Canada, which is probably colder than can be up there,” Bredbenner said. “They tried hard and had great attitudes. That’s all we can ask from them.”
Courtney Reed started Game One for ESU and came amazingly close to contributing in her third no-hitter in seven calendar days.
The senior threw her first 19 pitches for strikes and struck out six in three innings before turning it over to Megan Grisell.
The pair combined for a perfect game until the fifth and final inning, when Crookston’s Stacey Villebro lined a ball to left field.
ESU’s Jenna Potter made a diving attempt for it, but the umpire ruled that the ball hit the ground before going into her glove.
In Game Two, Samantha Sheeley and Potter did combine for a no-hitter, striking out 12 altogether in the five-inning performance.
“Our pitching’s definitely coming around,” Bredbenner said, “and everyone got a chance today.”
Hughes ended with an impressive second-game statline, going 4-for-4 with four RBI and four runs scored.
Megan Davison went 6-for-7 in the doubleheader with four runs and four RBI.
Jennifer Dace had the other home run for ESU.
The Hornets will play against Central Oklahoma at 4 and 6:30 p.m. today in the Best Western/Rodeway Inn Invitational at Trusler Sports Complex.
Friday at Emporia
Game One
No. 7 ESU 13, Minn.-Crookston 0
Minnesota-Crookston 000 00 — 0 1 7
Emporia State 206 5X — 13 12 0
W — Reed. L — Klassen.
E — MC: Klassen; McGee; Villebro; Derouard 2; Yates; Winkelman. LOB — Hornets 5. 2B — ESU: Ketter(1); Stevens(6). HR — Hughes (1). HBP - ESU: McClernon. SH —ESU: Hughes 2(3). SB — ESU: Campbell(3); Viola(12); Pfautsch 2(6). CS — ESU: McClernon (4); Davison (1).
Game Two
No. 7 ESU 24, Minn.-Crookston 0
Minnesota-Crookston 000 00 — 0 0 1
Emporia State 60(11) 7X — 24 22 0
W — Sheeley. L — Winkelman.
E — MC: Villebro. LOB — Eagles 3; Hornets 5. 2B — ESU: Davison(4); Stevens(7); Hughes(4). HR — ESU: Ketter 2(2); Dace (2); Hughes(2). HBP — ESU: Viola. SF — ESU: Stevens(1). SB — ESU: Wiard 2(8); Viola(13).