Junior infielder Miranda Campbell led the hornet offense Tuesday afternoon in a double header against Newman University at the Trusler Sports Complex. Campbell scored two runs with five RBI and a home run in the first game and got two more runs and another RBI in the second. The Hornets won the double header 9-0, 9-2. PHOTO COURTESY OF SPORTS INFORMATION DEPT.AT ESU

The Emporia State softball team swept a double header at home against Newman University on Tuesday. The Hornets won the first game, getting the run rule in the fifth inning 9-0 and finished off game two 9-2.

Senior Megan Denise threw a perfect game one, only allowing two balls to pop up to the outfield. Of Denise’s 58 throws, she allowed three batters to get three balls.

“I was hitting my spots and I had a goal coming in that I wanted to give away no more than two hits,” Denise said. “I wanted to keep it on our side to let us hit. We did and it was more comforting knowing we had nine runs and even if they did hit it that our defense would make out.”

Offensively, the Hornets dominated game one with junior infielder Miranda Campbell hitting two for two with five RBI. Senior Jill Peters hit a home run to score two.

“I have been hitting and being consistent,” Campbell said. “Hitting wise, I just needed to make contact and hit the ball hard and that was what I needed to focus on. This was a good series to do it because the pitching was perfect to get my swing back.”

In game two, the defense stayed strong as freshman Jennifer Heerey almost pitched a scoreless game, only allowing two runs on four hits in the fifth inning.

On the offensive side, the Hornets were lead by sophomore outfielder Abby Hughes who went two for three with one home run and three RBI. Campbell was three for three with one RBI.

“Offensively we had hit balls right at them and we weren’t getting them into the gaps,” said head coach Kristi Bredbenner. “We didn’t stress or anything, we just kept having quality at bat and focused on hitting the ball solid.”

According to Bredbenner, defensive improvement has been a factor to the team’s success.

“We have to get better every game and learn from our mistakes and working on fundamentals,” Bredbenner said. “The main focus has been fundamentals, getting the ground balls when we need to and just getting the job done in the game.”

For their next game against the University of Central Missouri, the Hornets are preparing for Megan Leonard, who has pitched eight consecutive shutouts and extended her consecutive scoreless innings string to 76.

“We are going to have to be aggressive when she throws a strike and lay out the rise ball,” Bredbenner said. “We need to go there with a lot of confidence and focus on hitting the ball just like any other day.”

The Hornets view the challenge at bat with optimism.

“I think it will be good for us because it will be a challenge and I think it will make us want to hit her even more just so that we can break that streak,” said sophomore infielder Angela Mahan.

The Hornets are ranked ninth and are 28-11 overall and 10-1 at home.

“It was a great game, a great series and great team work to pull it out,” Peters said.

ESU will play a double-header against UCM at 2 p.m. tomorrow in Trusler Complex.

Doug Irby/The Bulletin

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