February 22, 2026 – Emporia State softball used a walk-off winner to seal a pair of wins on the final day of the Washburn Invitational, as they knocked off Drury 11-0 and Rockhurst 2-1.
Game 1 (ESU 11, DU 0)
Following two scoreless innings to begin the game, Emporia State broke through with three runs in the third. Back-to-back doubles by
Sydney Wagner and
Brooke Flewelling gave the Hornets a 3-0 lead.
The Emporia State lead doubled in the fifth as a throwing error by the Panthers and RBI from
Karli Wehunt and
Brynley Smith put the Hornets ahead 6-0. In the sixth,
Kinsey Perine hit her first homer of the season to extend the lead to 7-0.
The Hornets capped their scoring with four runs in the seventh, as
Kinsey Perine and
Sophie Herman each drove in a run while
Ally Miller drove in two of her own to cap the scoring.
A LOOK AT THE STATS
Emporia State outhit the Panthers 13-3 with
Kinsey Perine leading the way, going 4-4 at the plate. Perine,
Sydney Wagner and
Ally Miller all drove in two runs in the game.
In the circle,
Hannah Butterbaugh picked up her sixth win of the season as she pitched 5.0 shutout innings with four strikeouts while allowing just two hits.
Izzy Sloan and
Morgan Tomlinson each pitched one shutout inning each, and Sloan struck out the side in the sixth inning.
Game 2 (ESU 2, RU 1)
The second game on Sunday between the Hornets and Hawks proved to be a pitcher's duel. Both teams went scoreless in the first two frames, before Rockhurst scored in the top of the third to take a 1-0 lead.
Through the first five innings, Emporia State moved just one runner into scoring as they trailed Rockhurst 1-0 heading to the sixth.
Morgan Tomlinson, who entered the circle in the fourth inning, stranded a pair of runners in the top of the sixth before Emporia State finally pulled level in the bottom half. With two outs,
Brooke Flewelling hit her third homer of the weekend to tie the game 1-1.
After Tomlinson retired the Hawks in order in the top of the seventh,
Leslie Ramos and
Brynley Smith both reached base to begin the bottom half, setting up
Addison Callaway to deliver a walk-off to clinch the 2-1 win.
A LOOK AT THE STATS
The Hornets had six hits in the game, with
Brynley Smith tallying two of her own while
Brooke Flewelling hit her seventh homer of the season
Chloe Wilson pitched the first 3.1 innings for the Hornets, while
Morgan Tomlinson pitched the final 3.2 shutout innings, allowing just one hit and picking up her first win of the season.
UP NEXT
Emporia State's final nonconference tournament of the season is up next at the Midwest College Classic. The Hornets will begin their four-game slate in Shawnee, Kan. against Maryville at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 28.