Softball drops two at Emporia State Classic

Thursday, March 21

Emporia, Kansas

9 a.m.

St. Cloud State

17-4

Pittsburg State University

15-13

Pittsburg State

St. Cloud State

Morgan Emmans went 1-3 and provided the lone RBI in the Huskies 3-1 loss to Emporia State.

Photo by: Kelsey Whaley

3/21/2019 7:08:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

EMPORIA, KANSAS – The St. Cloud State University softball team was on a roll entering the Emporia State Softball Classic in Emporia, Kansas. Unfortunately, the Huskies hit a bit of a speed bump Thursday morning and afternoon, as they dropped both their games against Central Regional foes. Despite a hard fought first game, St. Cloud State came up short in a 5-4 extra innings loss to Pittsburg State University before dropping the nightcap to host Emporia State 3-1.

The Huskies found themselves in an early 2-0 hole against the Gorillas after the top of the first inning, as a leadoff bunt single and error resulted in an early lead for the opponents. With a potent offense like St. Cloud State's, though, the team wasn't about to be shut out. Thanks to a two-out double from Jasmin Estrada (Litchfield, Minn. / Litchfield) in the bottom of the first, the Huskies managed to cut Pittsburg State's lead to 2-1 before taking a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the third.

The Gorillas, though, managed to to whittle St. Cloud State'lead to 4-3 in the top of the fourth before evening the score at 4-4 in the fifth. The score would stay that way through the bottom of the seventh, despite opportunities for both teams to take a lead in the fifth and sixth. In fact, it looked like the Huskies might take a definitive lead in the bottom of the sixth after Estrada's leadoff double put a runner on second with no outs. Sadly, the lefty DP was stranded at second, resulting in a 4-4 draw after six innings.

Neither team was able to muster any offense in the seventh, as Kate Kopeck (Lumsden, Wis. / Lumsden) sent the Gorillas down in order in the top of the inning before the Huskies stranded another baserunner in the bottom of the seventh. Both teams, though, were confident in their opportunities to score. Per NCAA dues, the batter who committed the final out in the seventh was placed on second to start the eight, giving each team a runner in scoring position in extra innings.

Pittsburg State was able to capitalize on the opportunity, as the Gorillas scored with a two-out double to take a final 5-4 lead. The Huskies, though, had an opportunity to answer. With the speedy Maya Keating (Wheaton, Ill. / Warrensville-Wheaton) on second and Morgan Emmans (Blaine, Minn. / Mounds Park Academy) and Estrada at the plate, head coach Paula U'Ren and St. Cloud State were confident the team would get at least one run across the board. Sadly, it was not meant to be. Despite a double from Estrada, the Huskies were unable to get Keating across the plate, resulting in the 5-4 loss.

Estrada was the team's top hitter through eight innings, as she went 3-4 at the plate with two RBI for St. Cloud State. Kopeck suffered just her second loss of the season, as she gave up five runs, three unearned, and five hits while striking out 11 in eight innings of work.

The Huskies were hoping to rebound with a win over Emporia State in the second game, but it was not meant to be, as St. Cloud State suffered a 3-1 loss at the hands of the Hornets. Emporia State took an early 1-0 lead in the third before adding two runs in the fifth for the 3-0 cushion. Still, the Huskies once again weren't about to be shut out, as a sixth-inning, RBI single from Emmans scored Keating to cut the Hornets lead to 3-1. Sadly, that was the only run St. Cloud State would muster, as a seventh inning rally came up short, resulting in the 3-1 loss.

The Huskies were held to just four hits in the second came of the day, including singles from Keating and Emmans. Cassie Francesconi (Schomberg, Ont. / Emily Carr Seconday School) and Sydney Trees (Prior Lake, Minn. / Prior Lake) recorded the other two hits for St. Cloud State.

First year pitcher Sydney LaPoint (Green Bay, Wis. / Bay Port) suffered her first loss of the season, as she tallied four strikeouts while surrendering three runs in five innings of work.

With the two losses, the Huskies overall record falls to 17-5 as they suffer their first sweep of the 2019 season. St. Cloud State will look to rebound with two wins on Friday, as the team takes on the University of Central Missouri at 10 a.m. and Washburn University at 12:30 p.m.