There were many times Wednesday when Miranda Campbell was glad to be an Emporia State Hornet.
She said it’s much easier to watch Megan Dennis’s dropball from third base than it is to hit it from the batter’s box.
“I would probably look silly myself if I went up against it,” Campbell said. “She makes me look silly in practice, so I’m glad she’s on my side.”
Dennis’s dropball was the difference in Game Two on Wednesday, as the off-speed pitch kept Missouri Western batters frustrated all game in ESU’s 3-0 victory.
The Hornets also took a 7-2 win in the first game to take a sweep in their first MIAA series.
“We were energized,” ESU coach Kristi Bredbenner said. “We were ready to play.”
Dennis was particularly dominant in the second game, allowing no runs and just three hits while striking out six.
Bredbenner called it “the best game she’s had all year.”
Dennis won her sixth straight decision after starting the year 1-4.
“My dropball was definitely more effective tonight,” Dennis said. “I’ve just been working on that pitch to get more movement. I’ve slowed it down, so it’s kind of become a second changeup.”
She needed it on Wednesday, as the right-hander didn’t feel her first changeup was working so well.
While her dropball was excellent, Dennis said her standard changeup was not going where she wanted it to.
“Whenever it’s not working, I tend to get frustrated,” Dennis said. “Today, all my other pitches were working well enough to cover that up.”
The slow, drooping dropball kept Western off-balance all game, producing awkward swings on strikeouts and also feeble grounders back to the pitcher.
“I love her changeup and her dropball. It’s the best feeling whenever you know she’s got it on, because you’re just going to see girls up there just freeze,” Campbell said. “Even when we hit off her, we all freeze. There’s just nothing you can do about it.”
Dennis received all the offense she would need in the first inning.
After a single from Angela Mahan, Campbell was able to get a
second look at Western pitcher Allison Jones.
“I saw her the first game, and I didn’t get a good piece of her, but I knew what she had,” Campbell said. “I knew she had the inside pitch, so I just sat on it and drove it.”
Campbell’s drive sailed well over the left-field wall for her MIAA-leading 12th home run, and the Hornets took a 2-0 lead.
Mahan and Campbell both had two hits for ESU, while Campbell had all three of the team’s RBI.
The Hornets used doubles to take control in their Game One victory.
ESU had six two-base hits, with Jennifer Dace and April Huddleston both contributing two-run doubles in a four-run fourth that made it 7-1 ESU.
Samantha Sheeley was once again solid in the circle, allowing just two hits and two runs — both unearned — in her complete-game performance. She added seven strikeouts.
Campbell, Dace and Huddleston each posted two hits in Game One.
ESU (23-12, 2-0 MIAA) will play host to Southwest Baptist at noon on Saturday.
Wednesday at Trusler
Game One
Emporia State 7, Missouri Western 2
Missouri Western 100 001 0 — 2 2 3
No. 22 ESU 012 400 X — 7 9 2
W — Sheeley. L — Belger.
E — MWSU: Nocita, Bruce, Franks; ESU: Campbell, Huddleston. LOB — MWSU 5, ESU 9. 2B — ESU: Mahan, Dace 2, Campbell, Smith, Huddleston. SH — MWSU: Douglas, Smith. SF — MWSU: Williamson. SB — ESU: Wiard, Mahan, Campbell. CS — ESU: Brattin.
Game Two
Emporia State 3, Missouri Western 0
Missouri Western 000 000 0 — 0 3 0
No. 22 ESU 201 000 X — 3 10 0
W — Me. Dennis. L — Jones.
LOB — MWSU 7, ESU 9. 2B — MWSU: Bruce; ESU: Dace. HR — ESU: Campbell. HBP — ESU: Potter. SH — ESU: Wiard, Huddleston. Att — 163.