Nothing doin': ESU shuts out 2 more
Softball team has held opponents scoreless for 47 straight innings
By Jesse Newell
Saturday, March 24, 2007
The streak lives on for the Emporia State softball team.
The Hornets continued their pitching dominance on Friday, extending their scoreless inning streak to an astounding 47 frames in 7-0 and 6-0 victories over Upper Iowa and Concordia-St. Paul at the Trusler Sports Complex.
“It shows just how much determination we have — to not let anybody score,” ESU pitcher Samantha Sheeley said.
ESU’s pitching was so good, in fact, that Upper Iowa went into the top of the seventh inning of Game One looking for a moral victory instead of the win.
Trailing 7-0, the Peacocks’ Danielle DeSerano led off by reaching on an error. Upper Iowa then used a sacrifice bunt to get her to second. And another to get her to third.
“I guess they’re going to take whatever they can out of the game,” ESU coach Kristi Bredbenner said. “If it’s just scoring one run, maybe right now that’s an accomplishment for some teams. We’re just going to keep focusing on every single inning and every single pitch.”
Sheeley did just that, buckling down to preserve the shutout by getting Jena Kilburg to pop out. Kilburg was 3-for-3 entering her final at-bat.
Sheeley allowed five hits and struck out seven to pick up her eighth win.
“Everybody’s been keeping me positive out there and just really showing support,” Sheeley said. “It’s been a really good experience.”
In Game Two, Courtney Reed was dominant once again, allowing just a single hit — a bunt single in the third — while striking out 12 in the complete-game effort.
The senior seemed to only get better late, striking out the side in both the fifth and seventh innings.
“Courtney and Sam both are having great outings and also having great presence out there,” Bredbenner said. “The key to them is working ahead and relying on their defense but also relying on themselves a little bit too.”
Jessie Wiard led the Hornets offensively, going 5-for-7 in the doubleheader to raise her average 40 points to .300.
The left-handed slap hitter was able to use her speed to her advantage, as all of her singles came on infield hits.
“I was just trying to get the ball on the ground,” Wiard said. “It worked out for me.”
Bredbenner also saw a change in the junior’s approach.
“If she could just get the ball in fair territory, she’s got a pretty good chance of getting on base,” Bredbenner said. “She was a lot more aggressive today, and I thought that helped her.”
Miranda Campbell added four hits and three RBI in the twinbill, while Morgan Viola contributed a solo homer in Game Two.
ESU had 21 combined hits in the two games.
“We’re not watching a lot of strikes, and that’s the kind of softball that I think we play the best,” Bredbenner said. “That’s the softball I love out of our girls — when we get up there and make things happen instead of waiting for things to happen to us.”
ESU (24-7) was originally scheduled to play in St. Joseph, Mo, this weekend but rains moved the tournament to Emporia. The Hornets play again at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. today and at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Trusler Sports Complex.
Friday at Emporia
Game One
ESU 7, Upper Iowa 0
Upper Iowa 000 000 0 — 0 5 2
ESU 101 230 X — 7 11 1
W — Sheeley. L — Loan.
E — UI: DeSerano 2; ESU: Davison. DP — Peacocks 2, Hornets 1. LOB — Peacocks 9, Hornets 4. 2B — UI: Kilburg; ESU: McClernon, Davison. HBP — UI: Davis, Schulte. SH — UI: Gress, Daubenspeck 2, Sinwell; ESU: Huddleston. SB — UI: Kilburg; ESU: McClernon, Wiard 2, Ketter, Pfautsch.
Game Two
ESU 6, Concordia-St. Paul 0
ESU 200 120 1 — 6 10 0
CSP 000 000 0 — 0 1 2
W — Reed. L — Turba.
E — CSP: Tischler 2. DP — Bears 1. LOB — Hornets 6, Bears 2. 2B — ESU: Huddleston. HR — ESU: Viola. SH — ESU: Dace. SB — ESU: Viola; CSP: Tischler.