March 29, 2025 - Emporia State softball split the Saturday doubleheader against Fort Hays State, narrowly falling 2-1 in eight innings in game one before picking up a 12-0 run-rule win over the Tigers in game two.
Game 1 (FHSU 2, ESU 1 - 8 inn.)
Gracie Rabe and Tigers starter Savannah Egger both took control of the game from the circle in the first inning. The Tigers managed a two-out hit in each of the first two innings off of Rabe, but the senior avoided trouble, keeping the game scoreless. Emporia State went without a hit until the sixth inning, reaching base only twice on a pair of fielding errors by the Tigers.
In the sixth, Fort Hays State scratched across the first run of the game, getting a two-out RBI from Thexton to take a 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the sixth, Emporia State answered back, as a one-out walk by Taryn Burkhardt and a double to left field from Sydney Wagner put the two in scoring position. After the second out, Burkhardt came in to score on a wild pitch, tying the game 1-1.
Following a scoreless seventh by both teams, a leadoff double in the eighth for the Tigers proved to be the difference as Fort Hays State took a 2-1 lead and then retired the Hornets in order in the bottom half to take game one of the doubleheader.
The Hornets managed just one hit in the first game and Gracie Rabe pitched 6.0 innings, allowing just one run with two strikeouts.
Game 2 (ESU 12, FHSU 1)
Emporia State flipped the script offensively from game one, and the run production started in the first frame. Following a scoreless top of the first from Hornet starter Jordan Harrison, the bats got going with four runs on five hits in the bottom half. Brooke Flewelling delivered a two RBI single and Leslie Ramos capped off the inning with an RBI single of her own.
Harrison quickly retired the Tigers in order in the second, and allowed the Hornets to add to their total in the bottom half. Taryn Burkhardt walked and stole second to lead off the inning before scoring on an RBI single from Sydney Wagner to make the score 5-0.
In the third, Emporia State rallied for a seven-run inning, matching their highest total in an inning this season. The Hornets got RBI from six different Hornets in the inning, as they boosted their lead to 12-0 heading to the fourth.
Fort Hays State was able to grab one run off of Harrison in the fifth, but the Hornets secured the 12-1 win in five innings to split the doubleheader.
Sydney Wagner had three hits while Brooke Flewelling and Ally Miller each had two of their own. Flewelling drove in three runs while Wagner and Juliana De Luna each had two RBI in the game.
Jordan Harrison picked up her 12th win of the season, pitching all five innings and one run and no earned with four strikeouts in the game.
Emporia State will be continue their homestead the next time out, hosting Central Oklahoma on Friday, April 4 at the Trusler Sports Complex. First pitch in game one of the doubleheader between the Hornets and Broncos is set for 3:00 p.m.
