The Emporia State softball team came back twice to stun Northeastern State in a doubleheader sweep at the Trusler Sports Complex on Friday. ESU was outhit 22-16 on the day but found a way to pull out a 7-6 win in game one and an 8-7 eight-inning victory in game two. NSU jumped on top with four runs in the first in game one and eventually built a 6-1 lead through three. After getting one back in the fourth, the Lady Hornets broke through for five in the fifth taking advantage of three RiverHawk errors. Gracie Rabe pitched in relief of Jordan Harrison and lasted 5.0 innings surrendering just three hits and one run to earn the win. NSU jumped on top early in game two with three runs in the first, but E-State answered immediately to tie the game thanks to an Alexis Dial single and another ‘Hawk defensive miscue. ESU briefly led 4-3 through two before NSU scored the next four of the game, but the Lady Hornets tallied one in the sixth before a McKensy Glass two-out two-run single in the sixth knotted it at seven. She talked after the game about what she saw on the pitch.
Lexi Williams worked a leadoff walk in the eighth before being bunted over to second by Dial when Bailey Flewelling grounded up the middle to score Williams and secure the doubleheader sweep. Rabe (5-3) returned to throw the eighth inning for the Lady Hornets and retired the RiverHawks in order to earn her second win of the day. Assistant coach Megan Hill spoke after the game about overcoming two slow starts to win.
The Lady Hornets are back in action Saturday to face #3 Rogers State on Saturday. First pitch for the doubleheader is set for 12:00 p.m.
