It says something if Emporia State pitcher Courtney Reed even impresses herself in the pitching circle.
Though the senior has been dominant over much of the last month, even she was left to admire her latest performance — a six-inning, 14-strikeout effort in ESU’s 3-0 victory over Upper Iowa on Sunday.
“I think maybe one game I’ve done better than that (this season),” Reed said. “It was probably one of my better ones.”
Reed left little work for her defense on Sunday, striking out at least two Upper Iowa hitters in each frame and striking out the side twice. She also allowed just one hit — a first-inning single by Jena Kilburg that glanced off the glove of ESU third baseman Megan Davison.
“I just feel like I’m back in my groove,” Reed said, “and exploding off the mound like I need to.”
Reed has been nearly unhittable after struggling in her first two outings of the season.
At the St. Edward’s Tournament, the senior allowed five earned runs in her first start and four in her second, posting a 9.34 earned-run average through her first 8 2/3 innings.
Since then, Reed has given up just 13 earned runs over 109 1/3 frames — an ERA of 1.07.
“She had the little brain fart at the beginning of the year, and now she’s on,” ESU coach Kristi Bredbenner said. “She knows she has to do it — she’s going to carry our team this year.”
Davison provided the ESU offense in the fourth.
After a bunt single from Jessie Ward and a sacrifice from April Huddleston, Davison put ESU on top. The senior picked on an inside pitch, knocking it over the wall in left-center for a two-run home run and a 2-0 Hornet lead.
“It was up in the zone, and I just turned on it, and it went,” Davison said. “I got a good piece.”
The third baseman is now just three homers away from tying the MIAA record.
Megan Grisell picked up the final three outs in the seventh for her first save.
With the win, ESU finished the North Central Regional Crossover Tournament with a 5-0 record after posting a pair of victories on Saturday.
The Hornets defeated St. Cloud State, 5-2, and Minnesota State, 9-2.
“(The girls) have been working hard,” Bredbenner said, “and I think that they’re happy with the results they’ve seen so far.”
The Hornets used a last-inning rally to take down St. Cloud on Saturday.
Trailing 2-1 in the seventh, Miranda Campbell reached on an error with one out and the bases loaded to drive in a run and knot the score.
Two batters later, Courtney Stevens delivered a three-run double to give ESU its 5-2 advantage.
“Our confidence is sky-high,” Davison said. “We’re playing 100 percent behind each other, and I think that’s all it takes, just to play as a team and play together.”
Davison and Campbell both had two hits and three RBI against Minnesota State to lead the Hornets’ 13-hit attack.
Samantha Sheeley picked up the win, allowing no earned runs while striking out four in her complete-game effort.
ESU’s 47-inning scoreless streak came to an end Saturday morning, as St. Cloud State scored in the first inning off Reed.
The No. 6-ranked Hornets (27-7) have won nine consecutive games. They will play host to Pittsburg State at 4 p.m. Wednesday for a doubleheader at Trusler Sports Complex.
Sunday at Emporia
ESU 3, Upper Iowa 0
Upper Iowa 000 000 0 — 0 2 1
Emporia State 000 210 X — 3 8 0
W — Reed. L — Davis. Sv — Grisell.
E — UI: DeSerano. LOB — Peacocks 4; Hornets 6. 2B — UI: K. Kilburg; ESU: McClernon. HR — ESU: Davison. SH — ESU: Huddleston. SB — UI: J. Kilburg; ESU: Viola. CS — ESU: Ketter.
Saturday at Emporia
Game One
Emporia State 000 100 4 — 5 6 0
St. Cloud State 110 000 0 — 2 5 2
W — Reed. L — Trossbach.
E — SCS: Gensch; Graham. LOB — Hornets 9; Huskies 6. 2B — ESU: Campbell; Stevens 2; SCSU: Haines. HBP — ESU: Huddleston; SCSU: Thompson. SH — ESU: Wiard; Viola; Pfautsch; SCSU: Gensch. SB — SCSU: Schanks; Strever.
Game Two
Minnesota State 002 000 0 — 2 3 2
Emporia State 302 103 X — 9 13 2
W — Sheeley. L — Teal.
E — MSU: Hoffman 2; ESU: Davison; Stevens. DP — Mavericks 2. LOB — Mavericks 6; Hornets 6. 2B — ESU: McClernon; Davison; Stevens. 3B — ESU: Davison. HBP — MSU: Anderson; ESU: Huddleston. SH — MSU: Decker; Reed; ESU: Wiard 2. SF — MSU: Hudson; ESU: Campbell. SB — ESU: Wiard; Viola; Pfautsch.