EMPORIA, Kan. — The Wayne State softball team split their first two games Thursday in the Emporia State Softball Classic.
In the first game, Makenna Adkison fired a complete-game four-hit shutout and senior second baseman Abbie Hix drove in all five runs in a 5-0 win over Washburn.
The Wildcats scored twice in the second inning as Hix laced a two-run single up the middle that scored Kamryn Sparks and Ashley Hernandez. They extended the lead to 3-0 in the fourth when Hix was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, scoring Sparks.
Wayne State closed out the scoring with two runs in the sixth as Hix singled to left field, bringing home Raquell Penke and Hernandez.
Hix and Hernandez each had two hits to lead a six-hit attack. Hix had five RBI while Hernandez had two doubles and scored twice. Sparks doubled and Penke singled for the other Wayne State hits.
Adkison fired a four-hit shutout in the circle for the win, her third complete game of the season and second shutout. She allowed four walks and struck out two.
In the second game, errors cost the Wildcats in a 10-5 loss to host Emporia State.
Wayne State scored five runs in the second inning to take the early advantage. Hix continued her hot hitting with a two-run homer, and Emily Chandler doubled and scored on a Baylee Rial single to make it 3-0. Annie Grammer walked and scored on a Kortney Buresh single, and Rial scored on a bases-loaded walk by Sparks to make it 5-0.
Empoira State responded with four runs in the third, helped out by two Wayne State errors, then tied the game in the third before scoring four in the fifth on one hit and two more Wildcat miscues. They added another run in the sixth to close out the win.
Hix led a seven-hit effort with two hits and two RBI’s, while Chandler had two hits, including a double. Ruresh, Rial and Morgan Vasa also had hits.
Adkison took the loss in relief of Maddie Moser, giving up five runs in 1 2/3 innings of work. Riley Vanderveen finished the game in relief.
Wayne State (9-7) faces Northeastern State of Oklahoma Friday at 12:30 p.m. at the Emporia State Classic.
