February 28, 2026 – Emporia State softball split their first two games of the Midwest Classic, winning game one 6-0 against Maryville before falling 7-4 against Southwest Baptist in game two.
 
Game 1 (ESU 6, MU 0)
The scoring got started in the second inning, as Elina Bartlett drove in two with a long ball in the second inning to put the Hornets out in front. Emporia State would get another run on a fielding error in the fourth, and then in the fifth, Brooke Flewelling hit home run number eight on the season to make the score 4-0.
 
While the Hornets expanded on their lead, Hannah Butterbaugh controlled the game in the circle, as she continually kept the Saints off the scoreboard.
 
The final two runs came in the sixth, as Karli Wehunt singled to left to score Flewelling and Sydney Wagner and make the score 6-0. Butterbaugh returned to the circle for the seventh and picked up two strikeouts to help finish off her complete game shutout for win number seven on the season.
 
Game 2 (SBU 7, ESU 4)
Emporia State again scored first, this time in the first inning as Brooke Flewelling and Avery Brewer both picked up an RBI as the Hornets went ahead 2-0. The lead then grew to 3-0 in the top of the second as a Bearcat error aided the Hornets.
 
Southwest Baptist then rallied in the bottom half, scoring four runs on five hits, including a two-run homer to open their scoring as they took a 4-3 lead over the Hornets.
 
Brooke Flewelling helped the Hornets respond in their next at-bat, going deep for the second time on the day and ninth time this season to level the score at 4-4. However, Emporia State's scoring would end there, and the Bearcats added to their two more times.
 
Southwest Baptist picked up two in the fourth and one more in the sixth to open a 7-4 lead, and the Hornets were unable to mount a comeback in the final innings.
 
UP NEXT
Day two of the Midwest Classic for Emporia State on Sunday, March 1 will begin with the Hornets taking on Minnesota Duluth at 12:20 p.m.