ESU softball splits with Northwest, finishes weekend with 3-1 record
By The Emporia Gazette (Contact)
Originally published 01:45 p.m., April 7, 2008
Updated 01:45 p.m., April 7, 2008
The Emporia State softball team finished with a 3-1 record over the weekend, sweeping Southwest Baptist on Saturday before splitting with Northwest Missouri State on Sunday.
ESU had a chance for a perfect weekend after taking a 3-1 victory in Game One on Sunday, but the Bearcats came back with a 7-5 win to hand the Hornets their first conference loss.
“We had an opportunity to win the second game, but we let it flounder a little bit in the late innings,” ESU coach Kristi Bredbenner said. “Still, those are two good teams going at it.”
In Game One against Northwest, ESU was helped by a strong pitching performance and also a pair of homers from freshmen.
Samantha Sheeley took the win, allowing one run and six hits in a complete-game performance.
The right-hander struck out 14 and walked just one.
ESU’s offense broke through in the second on a two-run home run from Abby Smith.
The freshman blasted it to center field against a strong wind blowing in.
“When she gets a hold of the ball,” Bredbenner said, “she has a lot of power.”
Freshman Angela Mahan contributed the other run with a solo homer in the fifth.
ESU couldn’t keep Northwest’s bats down in Game Two.
Starter Megan Dennis gave up four runs and eight hits in three innings before being pulled.
“They were hitting Megan hard,” Bredbenner said. “She had a hard time hitting her spots.”
ESU rallied to tie it at four before Sheeley allowed three runs in the sixth. The key blow was a two-run homer by Tiffany Graham.
The Hornets didn’t help themselves in the field, committing two errors.
“We’ve got to play a lot better defense,” Bredbenner said. “A couple of those plays weren’t like us. We’ve got to be a lot sharper.”
Jennifer Dace and April Huddleston led ESU with three hits apiece.
ESU (26-13, 5-1 MIAA) will play host to Washburn at 5 p.m. Wednesday at the Trusler Sports Complex.
Sunday at Trusler
Game One
ESU 3, NW Missouri 1
NW Missouri 000 000 1 — 1 6 0
No. 22 ESU 020 010 X — 3 3 1
W — Sheeley. L — Krueger.
E — ESU: Huddleston. DP — SBU 1. LOB — SBU 8, ESU 3. HR — ESU: Mahan, Smith. HBP — SBU: Ballard. SB — ESU: Campbell.
Game Two
NW Missouri 7, ESU 5
NW Missouri 102 103 0 — 7 11 2
No. 22 ESU 300 010 1 — 5 9 2
W — Morris. L — Sheeley. Sv — Krueger.
E — NWMSU: Channell, Corkin; ESU: Mahan, Brattin. LOB — SBU 5, ESU 7. 2B — SBU: Graham, Ballard, Krohn. HR — SBU: Graham. HBP — SBU: Corkins. SH — ESU: Smith 2, Wiard, Mahan. SB — SBU: Graham; ESU: Wiard.
Saturday at Trusler
Game One
ESU 12, SW Baptist 0
SW Baptist 000 0 0 — 0 2 3
No. 22 ESU 010 (11)X — 12 3 0
W — Sheeley. L — Rose.
E — SBU: Gomez, Brison, Rodriguez. LOB — SBU 2, ESU 2. 2B — SBU: Loftis; ESU: Hughes, Smith. HBP — ESU: Hughes. SH — ESU: Campbell, Huddleston 2, Potter. SB — Campbell, Bergley.
Game Two
ESU 9, SW Baptist 1
SW Baptist 000 10 — 1 4 1
No. 22 ESU 612 0X — 9 12 1
W — Me. Dennis. L — Wood.
E — SBU: Mortimer; ESU: Mahan. LOB — SBU 4, ESU 6. 2B — ESU: Campbell, Hughes, Brattin. HR — ESU: Dace, Potter. HBP — ESU: Huddleston, Bergley. SH — ESU: Mahan. SB — ESU: Wiard, Mahan, Bergley, Brattin.