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#21 HORNETS SPLIT AT PITTSBURG STATE

ESU 3, at PSU 1
at PSU 2, ESU 1

April 26, 2008-The #21 Hornets clinched a share of the MIAA regular season championship, but for the second straight outing split an MIAA double header by winning the first game and dropping the second by a 2-1 score. ESU defeated Pittsburg State 3-1 in the opener and fell in the bottom of the seventh in the night cap.

The Hornets got on the board early in game one. With one out in the top of the first Angela Mahan walked and stole second. Jennifer Dace then gave ESU the lead with an RBI double to left. In the second inning the Hornets strung together four straight singles with one out and took a 3-0 lead. Jenna Potter singled in pinch runner Linda Ketter with a bunt and Jessie Wiard drove in Aubree Brattin with a single to center. Wiard then had her string of 38 consecutive successful stolen bases snapped when she was caught trying to steal second. The three runs were more than enough for ESU starter Samantha Sheeley. Other than a fourth inning homer by Tiffany Swanson, Sheeley scattered four other hits and struck out ten as she won her 19th game of the year.

ESU took an early 1-0 lead in the second game thanks to a third inning home run by Linda Ketter. PSU tied it in the fourth with a home run from Lindsay Birchfield. Lori Lockhart led off the seventh with a double and went to third on a sac bunt. Eileen Treff drove Lockhart in on an infield single to break a 14 game winning streak against the Gorillas for ESU. Megan Dennis took the loss for the Hornets despite allowing only four hits and striking out five.

ESU, now 34-15 overall and 13-3 in the MIAA, takes on Washburn with the MIAA title on the line. The Hornets can clinch their fourth straight outright regular season championship and the top seed in next week's MIAA Tournament with one win in the Turnpike Tussle. Sunday is “Swarm the Stands” Day at Trusler and all fans wearing black and gold will be admitted free of charge. First pitch for the Senior Day double header is set for 3 p.m.

###HORNETS###