The Emporia State softball team earned a split with Missouri Western in their doubleheader at the Trusler Sports Complex on Friday. ESU trailed throughout but had the tying run on third and the winning run on second with no outs in the seventh and couldn’t score in a 3-2 loss in game one. The Griffons plated single runs in the second, fifth and sixth as the teams combined for 17 hits but just one for extra bases. ESU finally cracked through the Western starter in the seventh with three consecutive singles to open the inning, but the offense faltered making three-straight outs with runners in scoring position to end the game. Gracie Rabe (6-6) scattered seven hits in 4.1 innings surrendering two runs but took the loss. ESU used the long ball to win game two 8-5. Alexis Dial started the scoring with a two-run bomb to left field in the bottom of the first. The Griffons fired back with four in the second to knock out ESU starter Jayda VanAckeren after 1.1 innings, but the Black & Gold responded with four in the bottom of the third including a two-run home run by Josie Harrison to retake the lead. Her sister Jordan (5-3) pitched 5.2 innings of stellar relief allowing seven hits but just one run with three strikeouts to earn the win. Josie finished the second game 2-for-4 with 4 RBIs while Alexis Dial was a triple short of the cycle going 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs in game two. She talked about her approach with two extra-base hits going to the opposite field in game two. (AUDIO).
Assistant coach Megan Hill spoke about Jordan Harrison’s effort in relief.
ESU moves to 23-14 and 7-7 in the MIAA after the doubleheader and will welcome Northwest Missouri on Saturday for a noon first pitch. Coverage begins at 11:30 a.m. on Mix 104.9. Listen online at KVOE.com/listen.
