May 2, 2008 -- The #12 Emporia State softball team used a two out, run homer in the eighth from Jenna Potter to post a 6-4 come from behind win over Northwest Missouri.

The Hornets got on the board first when Jessie Wiard walked and scored on a sacrifice fly in the top of the first. The Bearcats tied the game with a lead off homer by Leslie Erin to lead off the bottom of the first. Courtney Channell then gave NWMSU the lead with a three run homer off starter Samantha Sheeley. The MIAA Pitcher of the Year then settled down and held the Bearcats scoreless and striking out 11 while allowing just three hits the rest of the way.

The Hornets pulled within 4-2 on Shelbe Hughes lead off homer in the fourth inning and tied the game with two runs in the fifth. Miranda Campbell doubled in Wiard and Hughes then singled in Campbell to tie the game at 4-4.

Hughes started the Hornets eighth inning rally with a single up the middle. With one out Aubree Brattin sacrificed Hughes to second before Potter hit her game winner over the fence in straight away center field.

NWMSU started the bottom of the eighth with a walk to Channel, who advanced to third on a ground out. Campbell then ended the game with an unassisted double play when she caught a Janelle Krohn pop up and tagged out Channel.

With the win ESU advanced to the MIAA Tournament Championship game for the sixth straight year. ESU will play Central Missouri at 12 noon on Saturday in Shawnee, Kan.

NOTES:
The victory was ESU's 19th straight in MIAA Tournament play since the tournament returned to the Mid-America West Complex in 2004.

The four runs scored by NWMSU were the most ESU has allowed in an MIAA Tournament game since allowing ten runs to Truman on May 3, 2003 in the second championship game.

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