February 1, 2026-Emporia State softball ended the opening weekend 4-1 with a split of Sunday's action at the Lone Star College Classic in Mansfield, Texas.  The Hornets defeated Eastern New Mexico 7-2 before falling 2-1 to Southern Arkansas.
 
ESU 7, ENMU 2
The Hornets manufactured a run early and used the long ball late to secure a 7-2 win over the Greyhounds.
Emporia State used a single, error and two walks to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.  Sydney Wagner hit a lead off single and went to second when Brooke Flewelling reach on an error in the outfield.  Back to back walks to Avery Brewer and Ally Miller plated Wagner for the first run of the game. Ally Miller made it 3-0 in the bottom of the third with a single that drove in Flewelling and Karli Wehunt.
After the Greyhounds got a run in the bottom of the sixth, the Hornets answered with a four run bottom of the sixth.  Kinsey Perine and Wagner singled to lead off the inning and Flewelling delivered a three run homer with two outs to make it 6-1.  Brewer followed with a solo shot to make it 7-1.  ENMU got an unearned run in the seventh for the final score.
Flewelling was two for four with three RBI, a homer and two runs scored while Ally Miller was one for two with two RBI.  Izzy Sloan started and tossed three shutout innings, allowing one hit and four walks.  Hannah Butterbaugh threw the final 4.0 innings to secure the win, giving up two runs, one of them earned, on five hits with a walk and four strikeouts.
 
SAU 2, ESU 1
The Hornets stranded ten runners in a 2-1 loss to Southern Arkansas in the final game of the weekend.
The Muleriders, who are receiving votes in this week's NFCA National Poll,  took a 1-0 lead in the first inning thanks to a one out double by Maddie Leal followed by an RBI single from America Rubio. They went up 2-0 in the fourth on a two out RBI double by Jenny Bouthillier.
Emporia State left runners on base in each of the first six innings, including leaving the bases loaded in the third inning.  Brooke Flewelling got ESU on the board with a one out homer in the top of the seventh to cut the lead in half, but that would be the extent of the scoring for the Hornets.
Flewelling was two for four with a solo home run while Taryn Burkhardt went two for three. Chloe Wilsongave up two runs on six hits over 4.0 innings to be saddled with the loss.
 
UP NEXT
The Hornets will travel to Bentonville, Ark. Next weekend for a scheduled six game stay at the Alvy Early Classic. Action is set to start at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, February 6 against William Jewell.