Softball Links

• Homepage
• Roster
• Coaches
• Recruiting
• News and Notes
• Schedule
• Stats
• Facilities
• Camps

#21 HORNETS SWEEP LIONS

ESU 3, MSSU 0
ESU 9, MSSU 0

April 15, 2008-Samantha Sheeley tossed a no hitter in game one and Jennifer Dace hit a grand slam to invoke the run rule in game two as #21 Emporia State swept Missouri Southern 3-0 and 9-0 on Tuesday.

The no hitter in the matinee was the first by a Hornet since Sheeley threw one against Washburn in the MIAA Tournament last season. She struck out ten and walked four in seven innings of work, allowing only one runner to reach second base. The Hornets scored all their runs in the fourth inning, plating three runs on five singles. Dace started the rally with a single up the middle. Abby Smith drove Dace in with a single through the left side to give ESU a 1-0 lead. Aubree Brattin and Linda Ketter each followed with RBI singles to give ESU a 3-0 lead. Sheeley then retired the final six Lions in order to complete the no hit shut out.

ESU got off to a quick start in the night cap, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first inning. April Huddleston had the big hit with a two RBI double that plated Dace and Miranda Campbell. That was all the offense Megan Dennis would need to win her eighth straight decision. After allowing two hits in the top of the first, Dennis retired 14 straight batters to end the game. ESU would strand six runners in the second through fourth inning before exploding for five runs in the bottom of the fifth. Abby Smith and Jill Peters each walked and Jenna Potter was hit by pitch to load the bases. Smith was retired at the plate on a fielder’s choice by Jessie Wiard for the first out of the inning. Linda Ketter drove in a run when MSSU’s Kayleigh Cecil bobbled a ball at third. Dace then hit her grand slam into the teeth of a 30 mile per hour wind to end the game.

ESU is back in action this weekend at Truman and Central Missouri. The Hornets take on the Bulldogs on Friday in Kirksville, Mo. with the double header set to start at 1 p.m. ESU and UCM will hook up in a battle of the second and third ranked teams in the North Central Region on Saturday beginning at 12 noon in Warrensburg.

NOTES:
Jessie Wiard added to her NCAA Division II career record for sacrifice hits with a sac bunt in the third inning of the first game. She also stole her 34 th consecutive base in the first inning of game two.

###HORNETS###