Hosting the MIAA Crossover because of an 11th-hour switchup, Emporia State appropriately waited until late in its first tournament game to pull out a win over Central Missouri.
Miranda Campbell’s second double of the game put the potential go-ahead run on base in the sixth, and freshman Katie Huffman grounded a single under the glove of the shortstop to drive in Campbell and give the Hornets a 3-2 win on Thursday at Trusler Sports Complex.
It wasn’t until late Wednesday night when the Hornets found out that instead of traveling to Central’s home of Warrensburg, Mo., this weekend, they’d be hosting the tournament Thursday and today. With Central’s field in poor condition from bad weather, ESU coach Kristi Bredbenner was more than happy to see her team get three extra home games, and on Thursday, the Hornets got the round-robin tourney started on a positive note.
Huffman’s hit wasn’t the only big contribution ESU got from a freshman on Thursday. Pitcher Paige Ladenburger relieved Karley Schmelzer on the mound after Schmelzer gave up the tying runs in the fifth, and Ladenburger got out of the inning and went the final two innings to get the win. Another freshman, right fielder Jessica Brewer, ended the game with a nice diving catch along the line to take a hit away from Central’s Nicole Norberg.
“I’ve got a lot of confidence in our team, and whether they’re a freshman or senior, they’re all great softball players and have the ability to lead us at any time,” Bredbenner said. “It’s just a matter of having confidence that you can do it when you’re a freshman, and they’ve got the confidence.”
Campbell’s first double in the bottom of the fourth broke a scoreless tie, with Abby Hughes coming in with the game’s first run. Three batters later, with Campbell at third, Breayle Tackett laid down a nice bunt in front of the plate, and Central pitcher Sarah Espy’s desperate throw home wasn’t in time to get Campbell.
The Jennies (8-9) responded by getting to Schmelzer in the top of the fifth, knocking her out of the game. With runners at second and third and one out, Norberg got a run home with a sacrifice fly, and Kelli Kurka’s pop fly to short right fell off the glove of the diving Brewer, tying the game at 2.
After Schmelzer gave up a sharp single down the left field line by Kasey Martin, Bredbenner summoned Ladenburger. She got Krista Cummings to ground out to end the inning.
Campbell led off the bottom of the sixth with a double to deep right center, and Amanda Self bunted her over to third base. That brought up Huffman, who was hoping to hit something to the right side that could get Campbell home. It didn’t work out quite that way, but Central’s Jessica Marble couldn’t corral her grounder in the hole at short, and the ball got through into left.
“I was struggling the first two at-bats, and so I just waited and trusted myself, because I knew the changeup was coming,” Huffman said.
Ladenburger, who had struck out two batters in the top half of the sixth, came back out for the seventh and got a grounder to Hughes at short and two flyouts to Brewer — including the diving catch — to wrap it up. She retired all seven hitters she faced.
Campbell and Hughes each finished with two hits in three trips for the Hornets (16-7).
“Here lately, I have been just relaxing, having fun, and just trusting myself,” Campbell said. “And the ball’s kind of like a big melon to me right now.”
Turnbull, Cannon and Thomas fields at Trusler were all scheduled to be in use during today’s portion of the Crossover, with games scheduled for 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Emporia State was scheduled to take on Pittsburg State today at 11 a.m. and Missouri Southern at 3 p.m. Both of the Hornets’ games will be on Turnbull Field.
Thursday at Trusler
Central Missouri 000 020 0 — 2 7 0
Emporia State 000 201 x — 3 8 0
WP — Ladenburger. LP — Espy.
DP — Central Missouri 1. LOB — Cetnral Missouri 7, Emporia State 5. 2B — UCM: Martin; ESU: Campbell 2. HBP — UCM: Opich. SH — UCM: Marble; ESU: Self. SB — ESU: Hughes.