Photo by Adam Vogler
Emporia State’s Nicole Bergley (6) slides into home off of a bunt by Abby Smith to score the tying run during the second inning of Sunday’s game against Winona State. ESU went on to defeat Winona State, 9-1, in five innings to win the NCAA North Central Region Division II Championship Game, earning the Hornets a spot in the College World Series.
On Saturday, Miranda Campbell told her parents that Emporia State would break out of its offensive slump in the Regional championship game.
On Sunday, the third baseman helped make her prediction come true.
Campbell blasted two home runs — including a grand slam — to help lift the Hornets to a 9-1 run-rule victory over Winona State in the North Central Regional championship game.
With the victory, ESU advances to this week’s College World Series in Houston.
“I’ve never had so much confidence in a team as I do this one,” Campbell said. “It’s an awesome feeling.”
Campbell’s career day couldn’t have come at a better time for the Hornets.
In her life, Campbell had never hit two home runs in a game. She’d also never hit a grand slam.
Thanks to her two big swings, the Bogata, Texas, native earned another first on Sunday: her first trip to the NCAA Elite Eight.
“I’m ready to go back to Texas,” a smiling Campbell said. “I haven’t been there all semester.”
Though ESU made Sunday’s game look easy, the road to the Regional title actually was filled with its share of difficulties.
The Hornets started the season 3-7, and with so many newcomers, ESU coach Kristi Bredbenner knew that many people were wondering if this year’s team could live up to the expectations of the past.
Photo by Adam Vogler
Emporia State’s Miranda Campbell celebrates the first of her two home runs in ESU’s 9-1 victory over Winona State in the NCAA Division II North Central Region Championship Game on Sunday. Campbell hit a three-run homer in the second and a grand slam in the fourth.
Her team ended up responding better than she could have hoped, going 39-8 the rest of the way.
“For us to be able to put together the season that we have since those first two tournaments is incredible,” Bredbenner said. “These girls have worked extremely hard, and I’m proud of them.”
Campbell’s power helped ESU put the game away.
Angela Mahan’s sacrifice fly gave the Hornets a 2-1 lead in the third, and after a Jennifer Dace single, Campbell sent a deep liner to right.
“I thought it was going to hit the fence,” Campbell said. “I didn’t know if it had enough.”
The hit did — just barely — as it flew just inches over the top of the wall for a two-run homer that made it 4-1.
Campbell added to the advantage in the fourth.
After a Jessie Wiard single and walks to Mahan and Dace, Campbell received another high pitch over the outside corner.
This time she left no doubt, launching her grand slam well over the fence in right to push the lead to 9-1.
Samantha Sheeley closed the game out with a 1-2-3 fifth inning. She retired the last 11 batters she faced.
“I just had to make sure I was hitting my spots,” Sheeley said, “and making it move.”
The pitcher had to dance around trouble in the second inning to keep ESU close.
After a Mollie Bjelland home run gave WSU a 1-0 lead, Sheeley gave up two more singles in the inning to put runners on the corners with one out.
The senior managed to get out of the jam with some help from her defense.
Photo by Adam Vogler
Emporia State’s April Huddleston smacks a hit into right-center field for a double in the bottom of the second during ESU’s 9-1 victory over Winona State in the NCAA Division II North Central Regional Championship Game on Sunday.
Megan Paulson flied out to shallow left on a running catch by Wiard, then Huddleston went to a headlong dive in foul territory to catch Callie Givens’ popup to end the inning.
“It seemed like everything was going our way,” Bredbenner said, “and that’s the way you want it.”
After facing its first deficit of the tournament, ESU came back with nine unanswered runs to end the game early.
Wiard went 3-for-3 with two runs scored. She also set the ESU’s record for stolen bases in a season with 45.
Huddleston added a pair of doubles.
Six Hornets were named to the Regional’s All-Tournament Team: Sheeley, Dace, Campbell, Wiard, catcher Aubree Brattin and outfielder Shelbe Hughes.
Campbell was named the tournament’s most valuable player.
It is the second time in three years that ESU has made it to the World Series. In 2006, the Hornets finished second after losing in the championship to Lock Haven.
ESU will face C.W. Post at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.
North Central Regional Championship
Sunday at Trusler
Emporia State 9, Winona State 1
Winona State 010 00 — 1 3 1
Emporia State 014 4X — 9 8 0
W — Sheeley. L — Fossell.
E — WSU: Paulson. LOB — WSU 2, ESU 6. 2B — ESU: Huddleston 2. HR — WSU: Bjelland; ESU: Campbell 2. HBP — ESU: Hughes. SH — ESU: Mahan, Hughes, Smith. SF — ESU: Mahan. SB — ESU: Wiard 2.
Saturday: ESU 2,
Winona State 0
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.
The win advanced ESU to Sunday’s championship game.
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.
The right-hander threw her second consecutive shutout, allowing just one hit while striking out 11.
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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