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Tigers rally for split with Hornets
4/23/2008
By NICK McQUEEN
nmcqueen@dailynews.net
Going into Tuesday's doubleheader at Tiger Stadium, the 22nd-ranked Emporia State University softball team was the hottest squad around, leading the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association with just one loss.
In Game 1 against then eighth-place Fort Hays State University, the MIAA juggernaut proved its power in an 8-0 run-rule victory in six innings to move to 12-1 in conference play.
In Game 2, Tiger sophomore Jessica Hamilton had other plans for the offensive-minded Hornets as the Broomfield, Colo., product allowed seven walks but just two hits to the previous MIAA hitting leaders as Fort Hays rallied for a 2-1 win.
"I am happy and thrilled with the fact our kids have showed so much resiliency and have battled back to win games," Tiger coach Tonja Hadley said. "I just wish we could figure out the other part of the mystery."
That other part was Game 1.
Emporia State senior Samantha Sheeley (18-6) couldn't keep Fort Hays, now the MIAA hitting leader at .311, from putting the ball in play, but when Fort Hays' defense committed two of its three errors in the middle innings, things went downhill in the opener.
"The kids did feel pretty comfortable and did hit some balls pretty hard, but just kind of got under it," Hadley said. "We hit it well early, but when things happened behind us defensively and on the mound, you could just tell it changes our hitters' perspectives."
With a 2-0 lead after three innings, Emporia State (33-14 overall, 12-2 MIAA) opened things up with a five-run fourth to take a 7-0 lead, scoring off four hits and one Tiger error. Tiger freshman Kayla Rupa gave up 11 hits to drop to 12-9 on the year.
Sheeley, the MIAA leader in wins, gave up just one Tiger hit, a leadoff single in the fourth by senior Alyson Garmatz.
"She just took over from there and dominated the rest of the way,"¬ Hadley said of Sheeley.
In Game 2, the Tigers got another crack at her.
With Hamilton pitching, the Hornets collected their two hits in the fifth inning, but scored their lone run on a bases-loaded hit batter by Hamilton (6-5).
"It's a sign of what Jess has done for us all year," Hadley said. "She has those games where she's just brilliant and keeps hitters off balance, despite the fact we really lost the whole right side of the plate."
Hamilton's seven walks were a season-high for Fort Hays, but she had three strikeouts.
"We couldn't get the curveball to save our lives today," Hadley said. "That only gives you two or three pitches to call."
Hamilton couldn't get any run support until the sixth inning when Fort Hays (30-22, 7-9) got rolling. Senior second basemen Emily Herl led off the inning with a triple and freshman Sara Tani bunted for a fielder's choice and stole second. Emporia State junior starter Megan Dennis intentionally walked Tiger slugger Jessika Anastos to load the bases.
Junior Hallie McMillen provided the tying run with a single down the left field line to score Herl, bringing Sheeley back in to pitch for the Hornets.
"We got who we wanted," Emily Herl said, as the Tigers watched Sheeley warm up.
Facing Tiger sophomore Adrian Mohr, who was in the lineup for the first time in five weeks, Sheeley recorded two quick outs as Mohr popped up to second and senior Anna Herl grounded into a fielder's choice, with Tani thrown out at home. Freshman Chelsea Luther fouled off pitch after pitch before the Tigers got a break. With a 2-2 count, Sheeley's pitch sailed over her catcher's head, allowing Anastos the time to score the go-ahead from third. On the next pitch, Luther struck out to end the inning.
"We were fortunate enough to have that wild pitch go our way," Hadley said. "You play hard, play the right way, and sometimes the ball bounces for you."
The Tigers play their final MIAA games today with a 1 p.m. doubleheader against Pittsburg State University at Tiger Stadium.
At 7-9, the Tigers were tied with Missouri Western State University for seventh place in the conference. The top eight qualify for the MIAA postseason tournament.
| Scoreboard | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | Date | Opponent | Score |
| BB | 5/04 | Pittsburg State | W 17-5 |
| BB | 5/04 | Pittsburg State | L 4-3 |
| BB | 5/03 | Pittsburg State | L 15-7 |
| BB | 5/03 | Pittsburg State | L 5-4 |
| SB | 5/02 | Central Missouri | L 3-1 |
| SB | 5/02 | Missouri Western | W 3-2 |
| SB | 5/01 | Pittsburg State | W 6-0 |
| SB | 5/01 | Emporia State | L 11-0 |
| BB | 4/30 | Kansas Wesleyan | W 14-1 |
| BB | 4/30 | Kansas Wesleyan | W 12-2 |
