ESU softball team defeats Winona State, 2-0, to advance to Regional Championship
Hornets will play at 10 a.m. Sunday at Trusler
By Jesse Newell (Contact)
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Jennifer Dace had to keep her eyes on the softball.
After connecting with the outside pitch in the sixth inning of a scoreless game, the Emporia State junior’s gaze remained fixed on her hit as it sailed deep into left field.
“I was watching it the whole way,” Dace said. “If it wasn’t out, I would have gotten in trouble, because I wasn’t even running that hard.”
Turned out she had nothing to worry about.
A second later, the ball disappeared behind the dark fence, good for a two-run home run that proved to be the game-winner in ESU’s 2-0 victory over Winona State in the third round of the NCAA Regionals.
Dace couldn’t hold back her excitement while rounding the bases.
“I was just jumping around being stupid,” Dace said. “It felt great. It was amazing. I was so amped.”
Dace’s game-changing swing was only half the story for ESU.
The Hornets once again received a dominating effort from starter Samantha Sheeley, who took a no-hitter into the seventh inning.
Annie Stuedemann finally picked up Winona State’s first hit to lead off the seventh — a flair to left field that fell in front of ESU’s Jessie Wiard.
Sheeley also lost a no-hitter in the final inning of last week’s 14-inning game against Central Missouri.
“It’s always on a blooper, isn’t it? I mean, I swear, those bloopers are killing me,” Sheeley said with a grin. “If that’s all I’m going to give up, then I’ll be satisfied.”
Though she lost the no-hitter, Sheeley was more than happy to preserve the win.
After getting a fielder’s choice for the first out, Sheeley struck out Megan Paulson swinging and Callie Givens looking to end the game.
The right-hander threw her second consecutive shutout, allowing just one hit while striking out 11.
Her biggest pitches came in the fourth, when Winona State threatened to take the lead.
With one out, Sheeley started to lose focus after she hit Mollie Bjelland.
Sheeley followed with walks to Jenny Wilmes and Stuedemann to load the bases.
“I was getting a little tired obviously, and I started aiming the ball instead of just throwing the ball,” Sheeley said. “I had to come out of that.”
The senior finally did — and just in the nick of time.
After going to a 3-2 count, Sheeley got Laura Wright to pop out to first. She followed by striking out Paulson with a pitch on the outside corner.
“I get in those situations,” Sheeley said, “and I know I’ve got to get out of them myself.”
Sheeley cruised from there, allowing just one baserunner in the final three innings.
With the victory, ESU advances to play in the Regional Championship game at 10 a.m. Sunday. If the Hornets would lose that game, they would play an if-necessary championship game at 12:30 p.m.
“We’re looking at tomorrow as a single-elimination game,” ESU coach Kristi Bredbenner said. “We don’t want it to get to that second game. We want to make sure we’re ready to go.”
The winner of the Regional tournament advances to the College World Series in Houston next week.
NCAA Regionals
Saturday at Trusler
Emporia State 2, Winona State 0
Winona State 000 000 0 — 0 1 1
Emporia State 000 002 X — 2 5 0
W — Sheeley. L — Fossell.
E — WSU: Paulson. DP — MSU 1. LOB — MSU 6, ESU 3. HR — ESU: Dace. HBP — MSU: Bjelland 2. SH — MSU: Wilmes; ESU: Hughes. SB — ESU: Wiard, Potter.
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