January 31, 2025 – Emporia State got the 2025 season started with a pair of 2-1 wins at the Branson Lead-off Classic as they took the first game over Oklahoma Baptist before holding off former MIAA foe Truman State in game two.
Game 1
The Hornets used a key two-out hit and strong pitching from
Gracie Rabe to take the season opener against the Bison.
Both Emporia State and Oklahoma Baptist were retired in order in the first inning, which included two strikeouts from Rabe in the circle in the bottom half. The Hornets got two runners on in the second,
Kennedy Topping with a single to left followed by a walk from
Jordan Harrison but the two were left stranded. Rabe stranded two runners of her own in the bottom half before the Hornets broke the scoreless tie in the third.
Sydney Wagner singled with one out and then stole second before a walk by
Taryn Burkhardt put two on base. After the second out,
Brooke Flewelling doubled into the right center gap, scoring both Wagner and Burkhardt, putting the Hornets ahead 2-0.
Gracie Rabe continued to control the Bison bats throughout the game, as Oklahoma Baptist reached base just twice over the next three innings, before the Bison finally broke through in the sixth. Oklahoma Baptist got a two-out RBI single from Morgan Max, but Rabe limited the damage, maintaining the 2-1 lead for Emporia State.
Rabe returned to the circle in the seventh and retired the Bison to seal the 2-1 win in the season opener.
The Hornets tallied just four hits, but drew seven walks with
Brooke Flewelling,
Sydney Wagner,
Kennedy Topping and
Ally Miller all reaching base twice in the game. Flewelling drive in the lone two runs on her third inning double.
In the circle,
Gracie Rabe pitched a complete game and struck out six batters while allowing just one run and two walks for her first win of the season.
Game 2
Emporia State needed just four hits to sweep opening day as the Hornets outlasted Truman State.
Jordan Harrison got the start in game two and Truman State nearly got runs on the board in the first frame, but Harrison stranded two Bulldogs in scoring position to keep the game scoreless. Emporia State reached base in each of the first two innings, but the score remained tied 0-0 until the Hornets came back to the plate in the third.
Like game one, the Hornets did damage in the third inning with two outs.
Taryn Burkhardt drew a two-out walk, and after advancing to second on a wild pitch, scored on an RBI double from
Brooke Flewelling.
Haley Garnett followed Flewelling with an RBI single to push the Emporia State lead to 2-0 over the Bulldogs.
Jordan Harrison continued to shut out Truman State until the sixth, where the Bulldogs grabbed a run to cut the Hornet lead in half.
In the seventh, Harrison retired Truman State to seal the second 2-1 win of the day for the Hornets.
At the plate,
Taryn Burkhardt,
Brooke Flewelling,
Haley Garnett and
Leslie Ramos each had a hit while Flewelling and Garnett drove in the two runs for the Hornets.
In the circle,
Jordan Harrison pitched the second complete game of the day for the Hornet pitching staff, allowing just two hits and one run with four strikeouts in seven innings.
Emporia State will return to action in Branson tomorrow with two games against Southwestern Oklahoma and Upper Iowa. Game one against the Bulldogs is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. and the matchup with the Peacocks is slated for 12:00 p.m.
