February 5, 2010-Emporia State split their season opening doubleheader with Colorado School of Mines in a battle of NCAA Tournament teams from a year ago.  The Orediggers took the opener 7-5 with the Hornets coming back to capture the night cap 9-2.

After the Hornets left two runners on base in the top of the first in the matinee, Kaleigh Starr homered to lead off the Orediggers half of the inning for a lead they would not give up.  Mines scored two more on three hits and two errors in the bottom of the second for a 3-0 lead.  

ESU cut the lead to 3-2 in the fourth on Linda Ketter's two run homer to left that scored Katie Huffman.  The Orediggers scored four more in the bottom of the sixth, highlighted by Starr's three run homer, for a 7-2 lead.  Ketter matched Starr with her second homer of the day to lead off the seventh for the Hornets.  Kaitlin Martin would make it 7-5 with a home run to right center that plated Jenna Potter before Liz Kramer came in to get the final two outs for CSM.

Ketter was two for three with three RBI and two runs scored on two home runs for ESU.  Jennifer Heerey took the loss, giving up seven runs, five earned, on 12 hits with three strike outs.

In the nightcap, ESU got on the board first with four runs in the first inning.  Ketter singled with one out and came home on Abby Hughes inside the park home run down the right field line.  Miranda Campbell made it 3-0 when she scored on Amanda Self's single through the left side.  Self would later score from second on a throwing error by the Orediggers catcher.

Paige Ladenburg faced one over the minimum through the first three innings before she gave up a two run homer to Sarah VanLingen in the fourth to make it 4-2.  ESU responded with three runs in the top of the fifth on Kaitlin Martin's three run homer that scored Hughes and Campbell.

The Hornets picked up two more in the top of the seventh when Hughes led off the inning with a triple and scored on Campbell's single.  After stealing second and going to third on a throwing error, Campbell would score on Self's double to left center for the final score.

After going a combined 0 for six in the first game, Hughes and Campbell combined to go six for seven with three RBI and six runs scored in the second game.  Hughes was four for four with two RBI, three runs, a stolen base, a triple and a homer while Campbell went two for three with an RBI, three runs, a walk, two stolen bases, and a double. Self was two for three with two RBI and a double while Martin had the three run homer.  Paige Ladenburg went the distance giving up two runs on two hits with 11 strikeouts and five walks in her Hornet debut.  She retired the side in order in three innings.

The Hornets are back in action on Saturday when they go to Denver to take on Regis.  First pitch of the double header is set for 1 p.m. CST.