Season Comes to a Close for Emporia State Softball with Loss to #4 Central Oklahoma

May 1, 2025-Tarin Ritz showed why she is the MIAA Player of the Year as she hit two home runs and tossed a complete game four hitter for fourth ranked Central Oklahoma in their 8-1 win over Emporia State in the MIAA Tournament Quarterfinals.
 
Ritz and Hornet starter Gracie Rabe combined to toss three and a half scoreless innings going into the bottom of the fourth.  With one out Kennedy Clark walked and Ritz blasted a home run to right center to give UCO a 2-0 lead. After a pop out Ariah Mitchell tripled and Mari Scott singled her in to put the Bronchos up 3-0.  Jordan Harrison relieved Rabe and got the final out to keep it a 3-0 game. In the bottom of the fifth Clark singled in a run to make it 4-0 before Ritz hit a three run homer to make it 7-0.
 
The Hornets got on the board in the top of the sixth.  Haley Garnett doubled and went third on a ground out by Taryn Burkhardt.  Sydney Wagner singled here in to make it 7-1 headed into the bottom of the sixth. With two outs in the bottom of the frame Rylee Anglen tripled in Macie Andrews to make it 8-1. Jayda Van Ackeren then came on in relief and got a ground ball out to end the inning.    
 
Sydney Wagner was two for three with an RBI while Haley Garnett went one for two with a  double and a run scored. Gracie Rabe took the loss, allowing three runs on five hits in 3.2 innings.
 
Emporia State will end the season with a 31-23 record, the third straight 30 season for the Hornets.