Emporia State softball team headed to College World Series

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By Jesse Newell

Sunday, May 11, 2008

On Saturday, Miranda Campbell told her parents that Emporia State would break out of its offensive slump in the Regional championship game.

On Sunday, the third baseman helped make her prediction come true.

Campbell blasted two home runs — including a grand slam — to help lift the Hornets to a 9-1 run-rule victory over Winona State in the North Central Regional championship game.

With the victory, ESU advances to this week’s College World Series in Houston.

“I’ve never had so much confidence in a team as I do this one,” Campbell said. “It’s an awesome feeling.”

Campbell’s career day couldn’t have come at a better time for the Hornets.

In her life, Campbell had never hit two home runs in a game. She’d also never hit a grand slam.

Thanks to her two swings, the Bogata, Texas native earned another first on Sunday: her first trip to the NCAA Elite Eight.

“I’m ready to go back to Texas,” a smiling Campbell said. “I haven’t been there all semester.”

Though ESU made Sunday's game look easy, the road to the Regional title was actually filled with its share of difficulties.

The Hornets started the season 3-7, and with so many newcomers, ESU coach Kristi Bredbenner knew that many people were wondering if this year’s team could live up to the expectations of the past.

Her girls ended up responding better than she could have hoped, going 39-8 the rest of the way.

“For us to be able to put together the season that we have since those first two tournaments is incredible,” Bredbenner said. “These girls have worked extremely hard, and I’m proud of them.”

Campbell’s power helped ESU put the game away.

Angela Mahan’s sacrifice fly gave the Hornets a 2-1 lead in the third, and after a Jennifer Dace single, Campbell sent a deep liner to right.

“I thought it was going to hit the fence,” Campbell said. “I didn’t know if it had enough.”

The hit did — just barely — as it flew just inches over the top of the wall for a two-run homer that made it 4-1.

Campbell added to the advantage in the fourth.

After a Jessie Wiard single and walks to Mahan and Dace, Campbell received another high pitch over the outside corner.

This time she left no doubt, launching her grand slam well over the fence in right to push the lead to 9-1.

Samantha Sheeley finished the game out with a 1-2-3 fifth inning. She retired the last 11 batters she faced.

“I just had to make sure I was hitting my spots,” Sheeley said, “and making it move.”

The pitcher had to dance around trouble in the second inning to keep ESU close.

After a Mollie Bjelland home run gave WSU a 1-0 lead, Sheeley gave up two more singles in the inning to put runners on the corners with one out.

The senior managed to get out of the jam with some help from her defense.

Megan Paulson flied out to shallow left on a running catch by Wiard, then Huddleston went to a headlong dive in foul territory to catch Callie Givens’ popup to end the inning.

“It seemed like everything was going our way,” Bredbenner said, “and that’s the way you want it.”

After facing its first deficit of the tournament, ESU came back with nine unanswered runs to end the game early.

Wiard went 3-for-3 with two runs scored. She also set the ESU’s record for stolen bases in a season with 45.

Huddleston added a pair of doubles.

Six Hornets were named to the Regional’s All-Tournament Team: Sheeley, Dace, Campbell, Wiard, catcher Aubree Brattin and outfielder Shelbe Hughes.

Campbell was named the tournament’s most valuable player.

It is the second time in three years that ESU has made it to the World Series. In 2006, the Hornets finished second after losing in the championship to Lock Haven.

North Central Regional Championship

Sunday at Trusler

Emporia State 9, Winona State 1

Winona State 010 00 — 1 3 1

Emporia State 014 4X — 9 8 0

W — Sheeley. L — Fossell.

E — WSU: Paulson. LOB — WSU 2, ESU 6. 2B — ESU: Huddleston 2. HR — WSU: Bjelland; ESU: Campbell 2. HBP — ESU: Hughes. SH — ESU: Mahan, Hughes, Smith. SF — ESU: Mahan. SB — ESU: Wiard 2.