Lady Blues clinch at least a tie for MIAA with wins at ESU

April 23, 2002

Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score | Season Stats

EMPORIA, Kan.- The Washburn Lady Blues clinched at least a share of the MIAA crown with a 5-2 and 6-0 doubleheader sweep of in-state rival Emporia State Tuesday afternoon.

The Lady Blues can clinch the MIAA title outright by winning one of two games against Central Missouri State on April 30. Barring a second reversal by the MIAA office, the first game in the doubleheader (originally scheduled on April 20) will resume in the top of the 7th inning with the game tied 3-3. Washburn can also win the title outright if CMSU drops a home game to Northwest Missouri State on Friday.

In the opener, Washburn took an early lead on two Hornet errors that helped make it 2-1 in the second. Emporia State stormed back and threatened to take the lead by pulling within 3-2 in the seventh with the bases loaded, before reliever Ashley Perkins slammed the door.

Perkins tossed 2 2/3 innings of relief, giving up only one intentional walk and no hits to get the squad's first save of the year. Starter Katie Gregg improved to 19-2, while Dara Clouse provided the offensive punch with three hits.

Washburn took an early lead in the second game and never looked back. After one run had scored in the second, Kristen Cheney hit a monsterous three-run homer to right center to make it 4-0. The blast was Cheney's 11th of the season, tying Chris Torrez's 1994 record for home runs in a season. Washburn finished the second with a 6-0 lead after scoring two unearned runs.

Perkins got her ninth complete game shutout of the season, helping the Lady Blues win their 14th straight game.

The Lady Blues will play Fort Hays State University tomorrow at 3 p.m. at the Washburn Softball Complex.