No. 9 Softball Shut Out By No. 6 Emporia State, 6-0
Box Score
HOUSTON (May 14, 2008) - Jennifer Dace went 3-for-4 with two runs batted in as the sixth-ranked Emporia State Hornets shut out No. 9 softball in NCAA Championship action in Houston, Texas at Memorial Park on Wednesday night in the first round of the NCAA College World Series.
The loss drops the Pioneers to 48-15, while Emporia State improves to 45-15 with the win.
The Hornets got to Pioneer Second Team All-American ace
Samantha Yodowitz (Suffern, N.Y.) for a run in the top of the first, as Dace's RBI single through the left side scored leadoff batter Jessie Wiard.
The Pioneers had a chance in the bottom of the first as the first two batters,
Melissa Medina (Levittown, N.Y.) and
#Kelsey Cooley reached base, but Emporia's Second Team All-American Samantha Sheeley worked a popup, a strikeout, and a groundout to end the threat.
Yodowitz worked out of a jam in the second, as she induced two groundballs with runners on second and third to keep the game close.
Emporia added three runs in the top of the fourth, as Aubree Brattin singled through the left side. Jenna Potter dropped down a bunt, but Yodowitz's throw sailed into right field, putting runners on second and third. Wiard's infield single loaded the bases, and Angela Mahan's RBI groundut to second doubled the Hornet's advantage, 2-0. Dace's RBI single to left was misplayed by the left fielder, the Emporia lead doubled again, 4-0.
The Hornets added an insurance run in the top of the sixth as Mahan picked up her second RBI of the day with a single up the middle. Dace followed with a double to left, putting runners on second and third for Campbell, who grounded a fielder's choice RBI to third base, pushing Emporia's lead to 6-0 and ending Yodowitz's day on the mound, as freshman
Christina Berardi (Raynham, Mass.) came on in relief, striking out April Huddleston to end the threat.
The Pioneers could not muster any offense the rest of the game against Sheeley, who struck out nine while allowing only six hits.
Yodowitz took the loss, throwing 5.2 innings of eight-hit, six-run ball. None of the runs were earned as the Pioneers made five errors in the game. Yodowitz loses just her seventh game of the season, as her record now stands at 30-7.
Berardi threw 1.1 innings of relief, allowing just two and no runs, striking out two.
Cooley went 2-for-3 to pace the offense, but the Pioneers struggled with runners in scoring position as they went 0-for-6 as a team, stranding six runners.
The loss drops the Pioneers into the loser's bracket, where they will face Lock Haven University, who dropped a 2-1 contest to Humboldt State, tomorrow at 12:30 p.m.
Emporia State will face Humboldt tomorrow in the 5:30 p.m. game.