BRANSON, Mo. – SWOSU Softball won another early 10am start, this time 7-3 over Emporia State on Saturday. The Bulldogs concluded the Branson Leadoff Classic with an even 2-2 record after suffering a 2-0 setback to Maryville in the final game of the tournament.
SWOSU will wait an entire week to play again. They'll travel to Wichita Falls, Texas for another four games next weekend at the Mustang Round-Up, hosted by Midwestern State.
Game One
SWOSU 7, Emporia State 3
After surrendering a two-run home run to the Hornets in the first inning, SWOSU settled in and only allowed one more run – an RBI double in the fourth – over the course of the final six innings.
Trailing 2-0 in the third, the Dawgs got three straight singles following a
Jadyn Hook walk to lead off the inning to grab the lead. They tacked on another run and led 4-2.
ESU got a run back in the top of the fourth. The Bulldogs then capitalized on a pair of Hornet errors and plated three more in their half of the frame to extend the lead.
Jaycee McKee earned a three-inning save by holding ESU scoreless from the fifth inning and on.
Alexis Taylor (W, 2-0) threw the first four innings, striking out three and walking two.
Hook,
Riley Lusk, and
Shallen Mershon all had two hits apiece. Mershon doubled in the second inning.
Game Two
Maryville 2, SWOSU 0
SWOSU fell victim to a walk-off home run in the seventh inning in the second game of the day to break a scoreless tie.
The Bulldogs stranded eight runners against Maryville and could not scratch a run across in the pitcher's duel despite outhitting their opponent 6-4.
Chesnie Hewitt and
Skyla McPhillips had two hits each.
Katie Boline doubled in the opening inning.
Hannah Nieuwenhuis got the start in the circle and was relieved late by
Jaycee McKee.
