Coming off the loss to Carbon on last Friday, the Lady Spartans turned their attention to a quartet of games ahead of them in Payson on Saturday. Facing teams from Union, Payson, Manti and Duchesne, Emery would return home after the weekend 3-1 with their only loss coming at the hands of the Manti Templars.
After the weekend the Spartans have an overall record of 11-5 with a 3-1 mark in region play. Emery also holds the No. 4 spot in the RPI that was initially released last week. The RPI will be used at the end of the regular season for playoff seeding purposes.
Below is a recap of all games played at the Payson tournament.
Game #1- Union-Win 9-1
In the first game of the day the Spartans faced the Union Cougars. Brooklynn Ekker went 2-3 as did Cambrie Jensen, both Jensen and Ekker registered one run and one RBI in the contest. Taija Olsen was 1-2 with two RBI’s and a pair of runs.
Emery put Union away with a five run fifth and coupled with Madisyn Childs six hit performance as she struck out seven, the Spartans coasted to the easy win.
Game #2- Payson- Win- 11-8
The game with the Payson Lions was a bit more competitive as they would jump out to an early lead scoring four runs in the top of the first, but by the end of the inning Emery would cut that lead in half. The Lions added another four runs in the third and in the bottom of the fourth the Lady Spartans would put up four runs of their own tying the game at eight.
Emery used a three run fifth to put distance between them and the Lions to take the victory.
Jensen was a single shy of hitting for the cycle as she collected four RBI’s. Ekker collected a pair of doubles and two RBI’s to go with it, and Brynlei Luke also earned a pair of RBI’s.
Aspen Taylor earned the win on the mound for Emery.
Manti- Loss- 9-1
The only loss of the day came at the hands of the Manti Templars who used an eight run sixth inning to take the 9-1 win over Emery.
Ekker, Jensen, Tylee Norton and Jalynn Fox each registered a hit in the contest, where the Spartan bat just went cold only managing to put up one run.
Childs and Jensen would team up on the mound combining for nine earned on 10 hits and striking out four.
Duchesne- Win- 5-4
In the final game on Saturday the Spartans faced the Duchesne Eagles. This was another tight game but in the end the Lady Spartans finished on top 5-4.
Emery jumped out putting two runs up in the first and then went quiet until the fifth when they put up another three.
Childs had another great outing getting the complete game win giving up four runs on six hits while she struck out five.
Norton had a huge game at the plate going 2-3 with four RBI’s and scoring one. Aspen Taylor would go 2-3 with an RBI and a run and Ekker ended her tournament going 2-4 with a pair of scores.
The Lady Spartans won’t make a return to the field until April 12 when they will welcome Richfield to Castle Dale. game time is set for 3:30.