Sports Shorts | ESU Bulletin

Hornets sting Bulldogs on road

The Hornet baseball team had a successful couple of days traveling to Kirksville, Mo., where they swept the Truman State Bulldogs in three games Friday and Saturday.

Starting off their double -header Friday, neither team could seem to get on the board, going scoreless until the ninth inning when infielder Zack Carlson hit a double up the middle to run infielder/outfielder Blake Sturgeon home. The Hornets took control of the nightcap with two runs in the first, eight in the third and another in the fourth to dominate the Bulldogs, 11-0.

Truman took control of the third game early, holding the Hornets scoreless while scoring two runs in the first two innings but could not hold on to the lead, letting Emporia score six runs in the fifth. The next four innings went scoreless, putting the Hornets on top, 6-4.

After sweeping Truman, the Hornets upped their overall record 20-14. After tossing a two-hit shut out against Central Oklahoma last week, Kevin Shaffer was named MIAA Pitcher of the Week.

If the weather allows, the Hornets hit the field again today at Trusler Sports Complex to take on Missouri Southern State.

Baseball sweeps double-header

The Emporia State baseball team beat the cold – and Central Oklahoma –

yesterday in a double-header at home at the Trusler Sports Complex. The Hornets swept the double-header, coming out on top, 3-1, in the first game and dominating the second, 6-0.

After a single and stealing second base, outfielder Jordan Slade, senior outfielder, was run in after a grounder by Eric Dawson, senior infielder, in the first inning. The Hornets managed to capitalize on an error in the second inning to put them up 2-0. Oklahoma was able to get on the board in the top of the fourth, but the Hornets answered to put the game away, 3-1.

ESU seemed unstoppable in the nightcap, scoring runs in both the first and third innings while holding Oklahoma scoreless and adding three points in the fourth and another in the fifth. The Hornets retired the second game, only allowing two hits to come out on top, 6-0.

The win over improved ESU’s record to 15-11 in the MIAA. They travel to Missouri Saturday to take on Truman State.

Softball splits with Central Missouri

While the Lady Hornets tennis team battled it out against Washburn, the softball team traveled to Central Misssouri Tuesday, where they split a double-header against the Jennies.

The women took the first game, with Tricia Vogel, junior infielder and center, hitting a double in the fourth inning, running in Andrea Piezuch, junior outfielder, and Stephanie Goodwin, sophomore outfielder. That win in the matinee increased the Lady Hornets’ winning streak to six, a streak the Jennies broke in the nightcap.

In the second game, the Jennies took 2-0, scoring single runs in the first two innings. The Lady Hornets answered in the third inning with a single run, but fell short in the fourth inning, allowing three runs. Emporia State could not gain back any momentum and went scoreless the remainder of the game as the Jennies won, 6-2.

Coming off the loss, the Lady Hornets prepare for their next double-header tomorrow against Pittsburg State. They follow that with another double-header Saturday against Missouri Southern.

Hornets keep Rangers in check

In a doubleheader last Tuesday, the Lady Hornet softball team swept the Rangers of Northwestern Oklahoma 9-0 in the first game, and 12-3 in the second.

In the first game, the Lady Hornets dominated, starting with a home run from outfielder Stephanie Goodwin with two runners on base. A bases loaded double from outfielder Andrea Piezuch put the Hornets up 6-0. Adding a few run in singles, the Hornets took the win.

A bases-loaded triple from infielder Amanda Self started off the second game. Goodwin managed to hit another two run home to put the Hornets up 6-0.

The Rangers did not manage to score until the bottom of the second, but the Hornets quickly answered with two more runs to put the score at 9-2. Goodwin managed to hit another homer in the fifth; it was the final score for the Hornets and put them up 12-2.

The Hornets are set to play Washburn at 2 p.m. today in Topeka.

Hornets overcome schedule change

The Hornet baseball team won the three-gram series against Lindenwood in Pryor, Okla. March 3-4 with a 12-inning, 6-5 win in game two, and a 16-hit, 11-0 win in game three.

Dakota McKaskle pitched a complete sixth inning performance in the first game with five strikeouts. But the Hornets gave up three runs in the final inning and lost.

After a short seventh inning game in the double header, the Hornets needed 12 innings before they won game two. After three unearned runs, they brought Brenton Higgins in during the top of the third for relief, and he shut the Lions out.

The Hornets brought everything they had in the final game with 11 run shutout performances.

Shawna Talkington got the start and struck out the Lions to start the game. Blake Sturgeon secured a leadoff homerun for a 1-0 lead.

Eric Dawson had five for five hits at the bat with four RBIs, a homerun and a double. Sturgeon went four for five with two RBIs, while Aaron Rea hit a homer on 2-3 with three RBI performances.

The Hornets will play in familiar territory when they welcome Fort Hays at 1 p.m. March 9 in a double header at home.

Lady Hornets drop 3 in Texas

The Lady Hornets softball team traveled to Wichita Falls, Texas over the weekend with an 8-2 record but suffered three consecutive losses for the first time in over a year – 9-10 to Midwestern State, 1-3 to Abilene Christian and 5-7 to St. Mary’s.

But they did secure a 13-1 win over Oklahoma Panhandle and another over Abilene Christian, 6-5.

In a run ruling win over Oklahoma, Andrea Piezuch’s was three for three with three RBI. Piezuch had two RBI on a three for four showing against Abilene Christian.

The Lady Hornets play at home for the first time this season when they welcome Fort Hays State at 4 p.m. March 14.

Men’s season ends, women still on hunt

Freshman guard Terrence Moore pushes past a Washburn Ichabod Feb. 28. The Hornets overcame their rivals 61-55.
Will Austin/The Bulletin

In a rollercoaster season, the men’s basketball team finished the year with heartbreakers.

In their first home MIAA playoff game in history, the Hornets suffered a 68-66 loss in the final seconds March 4 against Missouri Southern.

After controlling the floor throughout most of the game, ESU gave up the lead for the first time with just under eight minutes to go in the game.

After a turnover by Gavin Brown and a loose ball foul, Missouri Southern hit the two game-winning free throws to knock the Hornets out of post-season play.

Despite the first round loss, the men finished the season with four MIAA honors, the most since 2007. Paul Bunch made the all-defensive team as well as honorable mention ALL-MIAA. Kaleb Wright and Chris Sights also paved their way to the ALL-MIAA honorable mention team.

The Lady Hornets also had three players earn ALL-MIAA honors, after winning 11 of the last 13 games in the regular season to secure a bye in the opening round of the MIAA tournament.

Rachel Hanf landed second-team honors, Laura Patrick earned third-team honors and Merissa Quick received honorable-mention honors.

Women continue to roll, men continue to struggle

Junior guard Haley Parker readies for a free throw on Sunday, Jan. 17. Currently on 5-game winning streak, the lady Hornets will face Lincoln University and Lindenwood University at home Thursday, Feb. 7 and Saturday, Feb. 9 respectively.
Will Austin/The Bulletin

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Nothing seems to be able to stop the Lady Hornets and their senior guard Rachel Hanf. Less than a week since reaching the 1,000 point club, Rachel made even more history. She became the first lady hornet to score at least 20 points in three consecutive games since Alli Volken in a 72-58 victory at Northwest Missouri on Saturday, February 2.

The Lady Hornets secured their fifth straight win, in large part to their red hot senior guard who dropped 20 on the Bearcats after her career high performance of 25 on Wednesday night at Nebraska Kearney.

The Hornets regained the lead with 8:31 to go into the game after an 8-0 stretch led by Hanf. From there the Lady Hornets would never look back as they went on to win by 14 to move to a 12-6 record.

The ladies look to keep things rolling on their own court where they remain undefeated, when they welcome Lincoln. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. tonight.

The men however seem to be heading into the opposite direction as they just continue to let games slip away including a heart breaking 52-51 loss at Northwest on Saturday, February 2.

After going on a three game winning streak the Hornets find themselves on a three game skid.

After finding themselves down as much as 12 in the first half, the Hornets battled back and regained a 33-32 lead with over 13 minutes to go in the game. After losing their lead, Gavin Brown, junior forward, sank a three with 40 seconds to go in the game to bring them within 1.

Kaleb Wright, junior guard, missed the game winner on the road when he short-armed the buzzer-beater from the corner.

Hornets get a chance to get back on track when they welcome Lincoln at White Auditorium tonight. Tip-off is set for approximately 7:30 p.m.

Track sweeps UMC meet

Seniors Tyler Swalley and Ganon Mak leap head to head in the 60 meter hutles at University of Central Missouri on Fri. Jan 13. Both the men’s and women’s team took first place for ESU at the event.
Andrew Mather/UCM Photo Services

The men’s and women’s track teams swept team titles at the University of Central Missouri on Friday, with the #17 men winning by 21 points and the women’s team winning by 20 points.

The men snagged several event championships from senior Derwin Hall in the 60 meter run, senior Gannon Mack in the 400 meter run, and the distance medley relay team consisting of freshman Daniel Claassen, sophomore Alex Skinner, sophomore Travis Sipe, and junior Jacob Bull.

The Hornets also had five provisional qualifiers including senior Briar Ploude in the high jump, who placed first, senior Marcus Calleja in the high jump, who placed second, junior Andrew Etheridge in the 60 meter hurdles, senior Tyler Swalley in the 60 meter hurdles, senior Gannon Calleja in the 60 meter hurdles and junior Donald Wilcox in the long jump.

The Emporia State women won several events as well with four provisional qualifiers, including junior Nikki Wetstein in the 60 meter hurdles in a provisional qualifying time of 8.95 seconds and a win in the triple jump. Sophomore Maggie Wilson won the pole vault at 11-05.75 feet. Sophomore Carmen King finished third in the 60 meter run. Senior Marqueita Marisettein won the 400 meter run.

Ladies win, men lose to SW Baptist

The Lady Hornets basketball team was back in action Jan. 8 against Southwest Baptist after beating #10 Fort Hays State Jan. 5th, 69-54. They defeated SWB 65-59 and improved to 7-5 on the season and 2-2 in conference play.

Senior guard Rachel Hanf led the Hornets with a season high 19 points. Sophomore forward Merissa Quick followed with 14 points. Junior guard Laura Patrick had her first career double-double, with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

The men were not as lucky and came up short, 65-60. They fought back against a 20-point deficit halfway through the first half and pulled within 37-29 at the half, but they never took the lead.

Junior center Paul Bunch led the Hornets with a career high and double-double with 23 points and 13 rebounds. Senior guard Chris Sights added 14 points, and freshman guard Terrence Moore had 10 points. The Hornets fell to 5-7 on the season and 0-4 in conference play.