During a three-game losing streak earlier this season, Emporia State’s pitchers gave up 24 runs. If the doubters — and ESU coach Kristi Bredbenner is convinced they’re out there — want to claim the Hornets will not win a fifth straight MIAA title, the pitching could be what they point to.
On Sunday in a sweep of Incarnate Word at Trusler, Megan Dennis and Jennifer Heerey proved the Hornets still have one of the top pitching staffs around.
Dennis and Heery both pitched complete games and did not give up an earned run in Emporia State’s 7-1 and 2-0 victories.
“I definitely think the more innings they pitch the more confidence they’re developing,” Bredbenner said. “Each week they’re just hoping to get better.”
The Hornets have improved in recent weeks and have won six straight going into the MIAA season, which starts on Friday at home against Truman.
Miranda Campbell led ESU offensively on Sunday, going 4-for-6 with four RBIs. Emporia State had 25 hits in the two games, but struggled to produce runs in the finale. Heerey made sure that didn’t matter, pitching a two-hit shutout. After the first two hitters reached base, she retired 15 straight on her way to her first seven-inning shutout of her career.
Dennis allowed one unearned run and had seven strikeouts in seven innings in the first game. The ESU offense scored one run apiece in the second, third and fourth innings before putting the game away with a four-run sixth.
Campbell started the scoring in the sixth with a two-run single and she came home on Abby Smith’s first triple of the season.
Emporia State improved to 17-8. Heading into the conference season, Emporia State is once again looking like a favorite. But Missouri Western has won 20 in a row, and the rest of the conference is looking to end Emporia State’s reign at the top.
“I think we have a chance. I think a lot of people are doubting us,” Bredbenner said. “I think a lot of people don’t think we’re really that good. We’ll rely on defense and hitting, and if we can have good pitching performances, we’ll be right there.”
Sunday at Trusler
Game One
Emporia State 7, Incarnate Word 1
Inc. Word 000 001 0 — 1 6 1
Emporia St. 011 104 X — 7 14 1
W — Dennis. L — Sparks.
E — Luna, Campbell. LOB — IW 8, ESU 10. 3B — ESU: Smith. HBP — IW: Smitham; ESU: Dace. SH — Muskopf, Hughes, Campbell. SB — ESU: Hughes 2, Campbell, Brattin, Potter, Ketter.
Game Two
Emporia State 2, Incarnate Word 0
Incarnate Word 000 000 0 — 0 2 1
Emporia State 100 001 X — 2 11 2
W — Heerey. L — Padilla.
E — Holub, Hughes, Brattin. DP — ESU 1. LOB — IW 3, ESU 9. 2B — ESU: Mahan, Hughes, Dace. SH — IW: Smitham; ESU: Hughes, Smith, Potter, Ketter. CS — ESU: Bergley.