Softball opens MIAA play with sweep

Kellen Jenkins / The Bulletin

Senior pitcher Sam Sheeley delivers a pitch against Missouri Western. Sheeley had seven strikeouts in a complete game effort as ESU picked up two wins Wednesday.

On Wednesday night, the Hornets welcomed the Missouri Western Griffons to Trusler Sports Complex in Emporia. The teams played a double-header, the first of four that the Hornets have upcoming to open conference play. The Hornets swept the double header, winning the first game 7-2 and the second 3-0. The 22nd ranked Hornets are now 23-12 and a perfect 2-0 in conference play.

In the first game, senior pitcher Sam Sheeley opened with a complete game against the Griffons. Sheeley gave up just two hits and no earned runs. Sheeley also recorded seven strike-outs on the night. Sophomore third-baseman Miranda Campbell went two for three on the night and scored two of the Hornets’ runs. Senior shortstop April Huddleston and junior first-baseman Jennifer Dace both went two for four and had three and two RBI’s, respectively. As a team, the Hornets used a strong offense in the fourth inning to put four runs on the board and push the game out of reach for the Griffons. The nationally-ranked Hornets defeated their conference rivals easily, 7-2.

Campbell said that the team was confident in their hitting, and felt that the whole time was on fire during the first game.

“We were just connecting well tonight. Everyone was just on fire there,” Campbell said. “But when we get ahead by a few runs, we tend to simmer down a bit. We can’t do that; we need to stay hot.”

In the second game, the Hornets didn’t hit the ball quite as well, but was able to score three runs and held the Griffons scoreless. Junior pitcher Megan Dennis pitched what head coach Kristi Bredbenner called “her best game of the year” and kept the Griffon’s score at zero. The Hornet’s 3-0 win cemented the series sweep and sent the Griffons back to Missouri winless.

Bredbenner said that she was pleased with her team’s play on the night overall.

“This was a good way to start conference play. Missouri Western is a solid team, and conference is all over the place this year,” Bredbenner said. “Our girls are looking forward to the next week, where we have six more games to play.”

The Hornet’s next game will be here in Emporia against Southwest Baptist, a solid team which recently swept the Fort Hays team in Hays. It will be a double-header with the first game scheduled for noon. The Hornets will also play on Sunday here, against Northwest Missouri.