NORTH MANKATO, Minn. — With a 2-0 count and the bases loaded in the first inning, Jennifer Dace was given two options by Emporia State coach Kristi Bredbenner in their meeting between home plate and third base.
“You can wait the pitcher throws a strike,” Bredbenner told her, “or if she brings one, you can try to crush it.”
Dace chose the crushing option. The Hornets were glad she did.
The sophomore first baseman lined the next pitch up the middle, scoring two runs and setting the tone in ESU’s 8-2 victory over Central Missouri in the first round of the North Central Regional at Caswell Park in North Mankato, Minn.
“I always like to hit the first strike,” Dace said. “I don’t like getting down in the count. I’m an offensive swinger.”
The hit proved to be important, as it helped keep the pressure off ESU even after Central began a comeback.
The Jennies manufactured single runs in the second and third innings, tying the game at 2 on an RBI groundout from Lauren Young.
But the Hornets never panicked, taking control in the bottom of the third.
With runners on second and third and one out, Miranda Campbell provided the key at-bat for ESU, fouling off numerous pitches with a 3-2 count.
“I wasn’t going down without a fight,” Campbell said. “I wanted to at least put the ball in play.”
The freshman finally did just that, blooping a ball into left field for a two-run single that pushed the ESU lead to 4-2.
“It wasn’t the greatest swing,” Campbell said, “but it worked.”
It would be all the Hornets would need to break the game wide open.
Morgan Viola followed with a hit-by-pitch, and Courtney Stevens lined a single to left to load the bases. Laura Pfautsch delivered a two-RBI single up the middle, and April Huddleston capped the inning with a two-run single of her own as ESU took an 8-2 advantage.
The Hornets sent 11 batters to the plate in the third, scoring six runs on six hits.
“I was unsure how we would come out against Central, but we didn’t take them lightly,” Bredbenner said. “We were focused.”
From there, ESU starter Courtney Reed regained her form after struggling with her control in the first three innings.
She held Central scoreless the rest of the way, allowing just a hit and walk in the final four frames. Reed gave up just two hits in her complete-game effort, allowing two runs and striking out eight.
“That wasn’t Courtney’s best,” Bredbenner said, “but we’re still trying to convince her that she doesn’t have to carry this team on her back.”
Pfautsch led ESU offensively, going 2-for-3 with a run and two RBI. Dace and Chelsea McClernon also added two hits each.
The Hornets (47-10) advanced to face third-seeded Southwest Minnesota State at 3 p.m. today. The Mustangs (37-11) defeated Minnesota-Duluth, 6-3, to move to the second round of the winner’s bracket.
NCAA North Central Regional
Thursday at Mankato, Minn.
ESU 8, Central Missouri 2
UCM 011 000 0 — 2 2 3
ESU 206 000 X — 8 9 3
W — Reed. L — Young.
E — UCM: Whitcomb, Young, Adams; ESU: Davison, Stevens, Reed. DP — ESU 1. LOB — UCM 4, ESU 8. HBP — UCM: Whitcomb; ESU: Viola. SH — UCM: Sherman, Bauer; ESU: Wiard 2. SB — UCM: Whitcomb, Palmer, Selby; ESU: Pfautsch.