May 17, 2008—For the second time in three years the Emporia State Hornets overcame a loss in the second game of the NCAA Division II Softball Championship Tournament to make an appearance in the national championship game. The Hornets defeated #22 St. Edwards 2-1 in 13 innings before falling to #8 Humboldt State 1-0 in the national championship game.

In the first game of the day ESU got on top 1-0 in the bottom of the first when Miranda Campbell singled in Jessie Wiard. Samantha Sheeley made that stand up into the seventh inning before Stacy Giles sent a 1-2 pitch over the left field fence to tie the score. Sheeley came back to end the inning with a strike out and would pitch another four scoreless innings before being replaced by Megan Dennis in the top of the 13 th inning. She retired the Hilltoppers on four pitches to keep the game tied. Jenna Potter led off the bottom of the inning with a ground rule double to right center field. Wiard, the NCAA Division II career leader in sacrifice hits, did her job and sacrificed Potter to third. Angela Mahan then hit a slow roller to first base and Potter beat the throw home to send ESU to the championship game.

Dennis got the win in relief after Sheeley struck out ten and allowed only five hits over the first 12 innings. April Huddleston went two for five and Potter was two for four and scored the game-winning run.

Humboldt State would take a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when All-American Natalie Galletly homered to left field off Sheeley. That would end up being the only run of the game as Sheeley allowed only three hits the rest of the way. ESU had several opportunities to score off of tournament Most Outstanding Player Lizzy Prescott late. With one out Abby Smith singled to left field and Aubree Brattin followed with another single to left to put runners on first and second with one out. Potter then popped up to the pitcher and Jessie Wiard struck out to end the inning. Miranda Campbell singled to left over the third baseman with two outs in the sixth. April Huddleston then sent an 0-1 pitch down the left field line that would have give ESU the lead, but was ruled foul. Prescott then recorded her ninth strike out to end the inning and retired the side in order in the seventh to give Humboldt State their second national championship.

Sheeley went the distance allowing only the first inning homer as she threw a total of 46.0 innings during the championship run with a 0.91 ERA and 40 strike outs. Aubree Brattin was two for three in the championship game.

Sheeley, Campbell and Brattin were named to the All-Tournament Team. Sheeley was 3-2 in the tournament and allowed only three runs in her last 33.0 innings pitched with two of them coming on home runs. Brattin hit .368 in the tournament while Campbell had a team high three RBI in the tourney and was errorless in 20 chances at third base.

ESU ends the season 48-17 and made their second appearance in the national championship game in three years. The Hornets lose four seniors, Jessie Wiard, April Huddleston, Samantha Sheeley and Megan Grisell and will return six of eight position players next season.

NOTES:
Sheeley ended the season 31-8 with 338 strike outs, both Hornet records since ESU joined the NCAA in 1991.
Campbell ended the year batting .404 with 17 home runs, 18 doubles, 58 runs and 58 RBI. The 18 doubles tied the ESU record shared by three other players.
Jessie Wiard ended the year batting .300 with a school record 45 stolen bases.
Jessie Wiard ended the year with the NCAA Division II career record for sacrifice hits with 80, the ESU record for career runs with 188.
Jessie Wiard became the first MIAA player to be a part of four conference regular season and post-season tournament championships as ESU ended with a record of 214-49 in her four year career.
The 48 wins are the fifth most in ESU history and marks the seventh time in school history the Hornets have won at least 40 games, including the last five straight.
ESU will fly out of Houston at 9 a.m. and are expected to land at Kansas City International at 11:50 a.m. They will take a charter bus to Topeka to pick up the bus they took when they flew out by charter from Forbes Field and are expected back in Emporia at approximately 3:30 p.m.

Upcoming Events

• Alumnae Game
Sept. 21 at 12 noon Trusler Sports Complex

Recent Scores

• #8 Humboldt State 1, ESU 0 (NCAA Championship Game) - May 17, 2008