Emporia State softball swept a 25-ranked Northwest Missouri in a double header last Friday at the Trusler Complex, with final scores of 1-0 and 3-2.

This is the first time ESU has swept a nationally ranked team since defeating formerly ranked #13 Ft. Hays State, with final scores of 7-6 and 8-0 on March 14, 2014.

It was also the first sweep of a nationally ranked team at Trusler, since the Hornets defeated then #9 Missouri Western 5-2 and 5-4 on March 25, 2012.

“The feeling of sweeping a nationally ranked team is always a wonderful feeling and being at home made it that much better,” said Erica Harper, junior outfielder. “The atmosphere after a game like that is awesome and it’s an adrenaline rush that you just don’t get doing anything else.”

Eryn Stockman, junior pitcher, threw her first full seven inning game for the first time since last season, allowing only four hits, three walks and one strikeout.

This is also the first game the Hornets went without an error in 19 games, playing clean all seven innings.

“I was very proud of my personal performance,” Stockman said. “Pitching as well as I did definitely boosted my confidence. I was very proud of the solid defense on our team because we didn’t have any errors, which was an accomplishment for us this season.”

The Bearcats Kendle Schieber and Stockman went head to head through the first four innings until Stockman smashed a home run in the bottom of the fifth inning. That was the only offense of the game as the Hornets won their first game 1-0.

Northwest Missouri took an early lead in the first inning when Rebecca Mahrer hit a double.

Morgan Swisher, junior outfielder, got Emporia on the scoreboard when she hit a single and stole second with two outs. Caitlin VanVleck, sophomore outfielder, hit a single, which put runners on first and third. Katie Yoakum, sophomore infielder, scored Swisher, closing the gap 2-1.

Jaci Stephens, junior catcher, hit a single to left center, scoring Danielle Sprinkle, sophomore outfielder, to tie the game and advanced to second on a throw in the bottom of the sixth.

Harper delivered an RBI single up the middle, which got Stephens on the plate, advancing the score 3-1. Schieber led off with a single in the top of the seventh and advanced to third on a bunt and a ground out.

Marley Carmona, sophomore infielder, threw out Torri Blythe to finish the game.

“I feel like our overall performance was great,” Stephens said. “We communicated well and put our hits together when needed as well as our pitchers delivered a great game.”