The 9th ranked Missouri Western softball team allowed the Emporia State Lady Hornets to score in just three innings but they would be costly as Western fell 5-2 and 5-4 in Emporia on Sunday afternoon. The Griffons 11 game winning streak was snapped as they fall to 25-6 overall and 8-2 in MIAA play.
Game 1: ESU 5, MWSU 2
The Griffons had runners all over the base paths in game one of the double header but were able to score just two runs while leaving ten on base.
The Griffons opened the scoring in the third inning with two outs as Kendall Sorenson and Bre Fleschner hit back to back singles. Sorenson scored on a single by Keri Lorbert giving Western the 1-0 lead.
Emporia answered in the bottom of the third when Tricia Vogel blasted a two out three run homer scoring Taylor Zordel and Jessica Brewer giving the Lady Hornets the 3-1 lead.
The Griffons looked be putting together a big inning in the fourth as the led off with three straight hits which included a double by Kat Steponovich which scored Taylor Anding. Unfortuantly Western would strand the bases loaded for the second straight inning as they went into the bottom of the fourth down 3-2.
In the fifth the Lady Hornets hit another bomb this time by Stephanie Goodwin which gave ESU the 5-2 lead.
The Griffons could not get anything going the rest of the game as they would fall. Jackie Bishop picked up just her second loss of the season going six innings giving up nine hits and five earned runs while striking out five. She falls to 13-2 overall. All nine of the Griffons got a hit in the game.
Four different ESU players had two hits as they left five on base. Karley Schmelzer improves to 8-2 on the year going all seven giving up nine hits while striking out seven.
Game 2: ESU 5, MWSU 4
The Griffons opened up game two with Sorenson singling through the left side and Fleschner reaching on a throwing error by the pitcher. Keri Lorbert then singled on a bunt which scored Kendall Sorenson. That would be all Western would get as they would leave the bases loaded for the third time on the afternoon.
The Griffons went up 2-0 in the third when Blair Stalder singled up the middle which scored Fleschner from second.
Things were going smooth for Annalee Rubio until the fifth inning. In the fifth the Hornets capitalized on two Griffon errors scoring five runs on four hits.
The game remained 5-2 until the seventh when the Griffons made things interesting. Sarah Elliot opened the inning with a double to center field. Fleschner singled up the middle which scored Elliot with one out make in 5-3. Stalder singled through the left side putting runners on first and second then Lorbert walked loading the bases with one out.
Maegan Roemmich singled to left field scoring Fleschner cutting the score to 5-4, but pinch runner Erin Widrig was tossed out on the play giving Western two outs with runners on first and third. The next batter Anding would line out to third base ending the game.
Western had eight hits with Stalder going 3-for-3 with an RBI. Annalee Rubio falls to 10-4 going 4.1 innings giving up seven hits and three earned runs while striking out just one.
Lauren Sharp improves to 5-2 going 6.1 innings giving up seven hits and three earned runs. Karley Schmelzer picks up her second save of the year going 2/3 of an inning. ESU had nine hits with Jessica Gragg going 3-for-3. Tricia Vogel went 2-for-3 with two RBI.
Western returns to action on Friday, March 30 with an important MIAA double header with the Fort Hays State Tigers at the MWSU Softball Field. Game time is set for 1:00 pm.
— MWSU Sports Information —