Softball wins weekend series

Jordan Leigh Haiduk / The Bulletin

Freshman first-baseman Angela Mahan snags the ball from a teammate as she tries to get a Newman runner out. The Hornets will start conference play this week.

The Emporia State softball team spent their Friday night and Saturday morning this weekend on the softball diamond. Minnesota State-Moorhead traveled to Emporia to face the 19th ranked Hornets in three games over the two days. Emporia State went 2-1 for the series, splitting the doubleheader on Friday and winning the sole game on Saturday morning.

The first game was won by ESU, who provided consistent scoring throughout the game to win 5-2 against the Dragons of MSU-Moorhead. The star of the game was senior pitcher Sam Sheeley who tied her career high with 15 strikeouts in a complete game effort. Sheeley allowed only three hits and two runs in the first game. Miranda Campbell went two for two at the plate along with two RBI’s.

The second game was a different story, as the Hornets were without their ace. Freshman Brittany Norris pitched four innings for the Hornets and recorded five strikeouts. ESU fell in the nightcap, 2-1.

On Saturday, the Hornets gave up two runs in the first inning to the Dragons. Junior Jennifer Dace tied the ballgame up the next inning with a two-run homer. The Hornets fell behind again until the sixth inning, when the Hornets went on a run and scored eight runs to pull to a 12-4 win.

The Hornets will open MIAA play this week at home with a doubleheader against Missouri Western on Wednesday. The first game will begin at 5 p.m. with the second immediately following. ESU will then have three more double headers at home as conference play begins.