Softball | 4/26/2012 12:00:00 AM
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. -- No. 1 seed Emporia State defeated No. 2 seed Missouri Western, 6-5, to win the MIAA Centennial Softball Championship Game Saturday afternoon at Blue Valley Recreation Complex.
Saturday, April 28
Game 14 (Championship Game): No. 1 Emporia State 6, No. 2 Missouri Western 5 | Box Score
The No. 16 Emporia State softball team came from behind twice to defeat No. 21 Missouri Western, 6-5, and win the MIAA Tournament Championship Saturday afternoon at Blue Valley Recreation Complex. It is the eighth MIAA tourney title for the Hornets in the last nine years.
No. 1 seed Emporia State defeated No. 3 seed Fort Hays State, 2-0, to earn the first spot in Saturday's MIAA Centennial Softball Championship Game, and No. 2 Missouri Western eliminated Fort Hays State with a 14-5 victory to set up a title game between the two top seeded teams in the tournament at Blue Valley Recreation Complex.
The championship game is set to start at noon Saturday. If Emporia State wins, the Hornets will claim the tournament championship. If Missouri Western wins, then the "if necessary" game will come into play and the Hornets and Griffons will play for all the marbles at approximately 2 p.m.
Friday, April 27
Game 9: No. 4 Central Missouri 6, No. 7 Northwest Missouri 4 (8 innings) (Northwest Missouri eliminated) | Box Score
Ashlea Bengtson was 3-4 with four RBIs ,including a two-run single in the top of the eighth, and made two impressive diving catches in centerfield to lead the Jennies to victory. Jakki Prater pitched a complete game, striking out an impressive 12 batters while only allowing two earned runs, improving her record to 4-4 overall.
Game 10: No. 2 Missouri Western 9, No. 5 Washburn 6 (Washburn eliminated) | Box Score
Sarah Elliott was 2-for-4 with three RBIs and three runs scored as the Griffons rallied to beat the Lady Blues. Keri Lorbert was also 2-for-4 with three RBIs for Missouri Western. Annalee Rubio got the win for the Griffons, going 5.0 innings and striking out five.
Game 11: No. 2 Missouri Western 8, No. 4 Central Missouri 5 (Central Missouri eliminated) | Box Score
Taylor Anding was 2-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored to lead the Griffons past the Jennies. Jackie Bishop got her 23rd win for Missouri Western, pitching six innings while allowing no runs and just five hits with eight strikouts.
Game 12: No. 1 Emporia State 2, No. 3 Fort Hays State 0 | Box Score
Jessica Gragg hit an RBI single and Tricia Vogel had a solo home run as No. 16 Emporia State advanced to the MIAA Tournament Championship game with a 2-0 win over Ft. Hays State. The Hornets have yet to allow a run in three tournament games this year at the Blue Valley Recreation Complex in Overland Park, Kan. Karley Schmelzer struck out the side to start the game as she threw her third straight shut out, this one a two hitter.
Game 13: No. 2 Missouri Western 14, No. 3 Fort Hays State 5 | Box Score
Missouri Western's offensive explosion hit its peak in the Fort Hays State game. Home runs from Breanna Fleschner, Keri Lorbert and Taylor gave the Griffons a 6-0 lead in the first inning. Seniors Leah Steele and Blair Stalder followed with homers in the top of the fifth inning, leading Western to a run-rule victory, and avenging a loss to the Tigers the night before.
Thursday, April 26
Game 1: No. 1 Emporia State 11, No. 8 Lincoln 0 (5 innings) | Box Score
Offensively every Hornet in the lineup either scored a run or got an RBI in the 11-0 win over Lincoln. Andrea Piezuch was one for three but reached base three times and scored three runs. After giving up a two out single in the first, Jennifer Heerey retired the next 13 batters for her fifth shutout of the year.
Game 2: No. 4 Central Missouri 5, No. 5 Washburn 2 | Box Score
The Jennies outhit the Lady Blues 10-7 in the game and committed only one miscue. Jennies' right hander Sarah Espy pitched a complete game, striking out four, improving her record to 10-8 on the season.
Game 3: No. 3 Fort Hays State 7, No. 6 Pittsburg State 2 | Box Score
Taylor Nelson put Fort Hays State on top 1-0 with a solo home run to open the game and the Tigers would not look back as they defeated the Gorillas for the third time in the past week. Maddie Holub, making her third start against the Gorillas since last Saturday, pitched a complete game and again struck out 16 batters, tying her own single-game school record.
Game 4: No. 2 Missouri Western 2, No. 7 Northwest Missouri 0 | Box Score
In the bottom of the seventh with one out, Kat Steponovich snapped an 0-11 streak with a single up the middle setting up the dramatics from Kendall Sorenson. Sorenson stepped to the plate, blasting a walkoff homer giving Western the opening round victory. The homer was Sorensen's first in a Griffons uniform. Annalee Rubio pitched lights out going all seven innings giving up just two hits while striking out a career best nine.
Game 5: No. 5 Washburn 8, No. 8 Lincoln 3 (Lincoln eliminated) | Box Score
In the second game of the night, the Lady Blues again fell behind 1-0 after the Blue Tigers scored one run in their first at bat and neither team would score until the Washburn scored four runs in the fourth, one in the fifth and three in the sixth leading to the 8-3 win.
Game 6: No. 7 Northwest Missouri 11, No. 6 Pittsburg State 5 (Pittsburg State eliminated) | Box Score
Saving their best for last the Northwest Missouri State softball team needed two outstanding performances Thursday night staving off elimination by knocking off Pittsburg State 11-5 after a heartbreaking 2-0 loss to No. 21 Missouri Western in the first round of the MIAA Softball Championships. Northwest scored seven runs in the first inning, capped off by a Rachael Schmitz grand slam, her fifth home run of the year.
Game 7: No. 1 Emporia State 8, No. 4 Central Missouri 0 (5 innings) | Box Score
ESU lost the coin flip in game two and were the visitors on the scoreboard. They responded by scoring four runs in the top of the first to give Schmelzer all the run support she would need. She struck out seven of the first ten Jennies she faced and after allowing a lead off single in the third, retired the final nine Jennies. Taylor Reichard was three for three with four RBI and a run scored to lead the offense.
Game 8: No. 3 Fort Hays State 2, No. 2 Missouri Western 1 | Box Score
The Tigers again struck with a home run in the bottom of the first inning, this time with Holub doing the honors and giving FHSU the early 1-0 lead. There was little offense the rest of the way, with Holub and MIAA Pitcher of the Year Jackie Bishop engaging in a pitcher's duel. Holub allowed seven hits, but walked just one and worked out of several tough situations, causing the Griffons to leave seven runners on base.