Emporia State Softball Earns Split In Turnpike Tussle

April 26, 2025-Emporia State wrapped up a spot in the MIAA Tournament with a split of their double header at Washburn on Saturday. The Hornets fell 8-0 in game one and then took the second game of the Turnpike Tussle 4-2 in extra innings.
 
Game One
The Ichabods took advantage of three home runs from Jaden LaBarge in an 8-0 win in game one.
LaBarge put Washburn ahead with a three run homer in the first and then made it 5-0 with a two run shot in the third.  She completed the hat trick with another two run homer in the fifth.  The Ichabods ended the game on an unearned run following two walks and a pinch hit bunt followed by a throwing error in the fifth.
Sydney Wagner had a double while Mallory Moore, Ally Miller and Kinsey Perine all had singles in the opener. Gracie Rabe took the loss allowing seven runs, only four of them earned, on eight hits in 4.0 innings.
 
Game Two
The Hornets scored the first two runs and the last two runs in a 4-2 victory in eight innings to end the regular season.
Emporia State started the scoring in the second when Leslie Ramos singled and Haley Garnett walked with one out.  Kennedy Topping followed with an RBI double that chased Washburn starter A. Tanguma. With two outs Taryn Burkhardt singled in Garnett who was able to score in front of Topping who was thrown out trying score from second.
The Hornets held the two run lead until Jaden LaBarge led off the bottom of the fourth with a home run to make it 2-1. The Ichabods tied the game in the bottom of the sixth on an unearned run.  E Boles led off with a single and went to second on a fielding error at third on a sac bunt.  Another sac bunt put runners on second and third with one out and a sac fly by D Schlader tied the score. Neither team would score in the seventh as the Turnpike Tussle went to extra innings for the second time in two years.
In the top of the eighth Sydney Wagner singled with one out and went to second on a single by Mallory Moore. Brooke Flewelling singled up the middle to load the bases.  Juliana De Luna worked a walk to drive in a run and put the Hornets up 3-2.  Ramos followed with a sac fly that scored Moore before De Luna was thrown out trying to go to second on the play.
Jordan Harrison then worked a 1-2-3 bottom of the eighth to pick up her 15^th win of the season.
Sydney Wagner went three for four with a run scored while Leslie Ramos was one for three with a run and an RBI.  Taryn Burkhardt was two for four with an RBI.  The Hornets also got RBI from Juliana De Luna and Kennedy Topping and Mallory Moore added a run. Jordan Harrison went the distance allowing two runs, one of them earned, on seven hits with two strikeouts.

With the win Emporia State reached 30 wins for the third straight season and clinched a spot in the MIAA Tournament.  They will be the eighth seed and play ninth seeded Fort Hays State on Wednesday, April 30 at 3:00 p.m. in Hays, Kan.
 
NOTES
Emporia State has won at least 30 games in three straight seasons for the first time since winning at least 30 games every year from 2003-15.