Photo by Carly Pearson
Emporia State's Angela Mahan swings at a pitch Wednesday night at the Trusler Sports Complex.
When things didn’t go right, Megan Dennis didn’t get down.
It all led to the Emporia State junior’s best outing of the year.
The Missouri transfer notched her first shutout of the season, helping No. 24 ESU to an 8-0 victory over Newman on Wednesday.
The Hornets also won Game One, 5-0.
“Early in the season, (Megan) struggled with letting hits get to her, but tonight she kept her composure,” ESU third baseman Miranda Campbell said. “She has done great her last two outings.”
After allowing just two earned runs in a complete-game effort against Upper Iowa last Friday, Dennis said her goal was to get off to a good start on Wednesday.
When it didn’t happen, she still made do.
Newman’s Shelly VanHorn opened the game with a single, and a two-out hit from Joanne Fluker put runners on first and third.
“I’ve learned to bounce back and not let that affect me, or not let the defense see that it affects me,” Dennis said. “I’m just trying to grow with every game, I guess.”
That maturity showed through, as Dennis got Allison Thummel to pop up to second to end the threat.
Photo by Carly Pearson
The Hornet infield celebrates the second out of an inning at the pitcher's circle Wednesday night at the Trusler Sports Complex. ESU swept a doubleheader with Newman, taking 5-0 and 8-0 victories.
“It doesn’t really matter in the end how many hits they have if they don’t score,” Dennis said. “That’s how I look at it.”
The right-hander cruised from there, allowing five hits while walking none. She also struck out five.
Campbell helped give the offense a boost in the third.
With a runner on, the sophomore picked on a two-strike pitch, driving it over the left-center wall to make it 4-0.
“I was like, ‘Anything close, I’m going to hit,’” Campbell said. “Somehow, I got around on it and got all of it, I guess. I really wasn’t expecting to hit it over the fence.”
The blast was Campbell’s 10th home run of the year.
The Hornets enforced the run-rule in the second game after getting challenged by coach Kristi Bredbenner after their Game-One victory.
Though ESU won 5-0, Bredbenner was animated in her between-games speech to her team on the field.
“Since we were playing on our home field — with the new dugout and new fence — she said we should have been more excited than we were,” Campbell said. “We just didn’t come out fired up like we should have.
“She’s right. We should have been fired up.”
ESU coasted in the first game thanks to a nearly flawless effort from starter Samantha Sheeley.
The senior posted a two-hit shutout, striking out 14.
Leadoff hitter Jessie Wiard led ESU’s offense, combining to go 4-for-7 with six runs scored and six stolen bases in the two games.
ESU (19-11) will play a home doubleheader against Minnesota-Moorhead at 3 p.m. on Friday.
Wednesday’s contest was the first of eight consecutive home dates for the Hornets.
Wednesday at Trusler
Game One
Emporia State 5, Newman 0
Newman 000 000 0 — 0 2 1
No. 24 ESU 011 030 X — 5 8 0
W — Sheeley. L — Fluker.
E — Newman: Sheahon. LOB — Newman 6, ESU 6. 2B — ESU: Dace, Brattin. 3B — ESU: Mahan. HBP — Newman: VanHorn. SH — Newman: Thummel. SB — ESU: Wiard 2, Ma. Dennis, Hughes, Brattin. CS — ESU: Campbell.
Att — 186.
Game Two
Emporia State 8, Newman 0 (six innings)
Newman 000 000 — 0 5 3
No. 24 ESU 104 201 — 8 8 2
W — Me. Dennis. L — Thummel.
E — Newman: Schneider, Sheahon, Langley; ESU: Ketter, Me. Dennis. DP — ESU 2. LOB — Newman 5, ESU 6. 2B — ESU: Potter. HR — ESU: Campbell. SH — ESU: Mahan, Campbell. SB — ESU: Wiard 4, Mahan 2, Hughes.
Att — 187.
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