February 7, 2025 – Emporia State softball splits the first day at the Alvy Early Memorial Classic with a 7-4 loss against Truman State before bouncing back with a 5-1 win over William Jewell.
Game 1
A pair of three-run innings for the Bulldogs were too much for the Hornets to overcome in the first game of the Alvy Early Memorial Classic. Truman State got the scoring started in the bottom of the first as a pair of fielding errors aided the Bulldogs to three runs to take an early 3-0 lead.
Emporia State responded with two runs in the top of the second, as an error by the Bulldogs in the outfield resulted in two runs for the Hornets.
Jayda VanAckeren held Truman State scoreless in the bottom half, and in the top of the third, Emporia State pulled level. With one out,
Ally Miller singled up the middle to score
Sydney Wagner and make the score 3-3.
Truman State retook the lead in the bottom of the third, as four hits resulted in one run to make the score 4-3 in favor of the Bulldogs. The offense for both teams slowed down over the next two innings before Emporia State tied the game again in the top of the sixth.
Brooke Flewelling tripled to right field with one out, scoring Wagner from first base to make the score 4-4. In the bottom half, a fielding error with two outs proved costly as Truman State pushed three runs across in the inning, taking a 7-4 lead over the Hornets.
Emporia State threatened in their last chance at the plate, eventually loading the bases with one out, but were unable to push any runs across as they fell 7-4 against Truman State in game one.
Sydney Wagner and
Juliana De Luna each had two hits in the game, while Wagner scored two runs.
Jayda VanAckeren and
Gracie Rabe combined to allow just seven hits and Rabe struck out four as they both pitched 3.0 innings.
Game 2
Emporia State bounced back with a 5-1 win over William Jewell in game two, which included a complete game in the circle from
Jordan Harrison.
Both offenses were kept in through the first three innings before the Cardinals struck first in the top of the fourth. A solo home run from Amanda Chung put William Jewell ahead 1-0, but the Hornets answered back with two of their own in the bottom half of the frame.
With two outs, Emporia State was able to load the bases for
Sydney Wagner who singled to right field, driving in two runs and putting the Hornets ahead 2-1.
Jordan Harrison retired William Jewell in order in the fifth and then helped add to the Emporia State lead in the bottom of the fifth. Harrison started the inning with a leadoff double and pinch-runner
Kylie Chester scored on an RBI single from
Leslie Ramos to extend the Emporia State lead to 3-1.
The Hornets would add two more runs in their final at-bat, as a bases loaded walk by Harrison followed by an RBI fielder's choice from Ramos gave Emporia State a 5-1 lead heading to the seventh. Harrison was able to retire the Cardinals in order, sealing the Friday split with a 5-1 win.
Sydney Wagner and
Brooke Flewelling both had two hits in game two, with Wagner and
Leslie Ramos both driving in two runs.
Jordan Harrison tossed a complete-game, allowing just one run on three hits while recording six strikeouts.
Emporia State will be back in action with two games on Saturday, February 8 at the Alvy Early Memorial Classic. The Hornets will take on the defending national champions, UT-Tyler at 11:00 a.m. with a matchup against Arkansas-Monticello at 3:30 p.m.
