March 8, 2026 – Emporia State mounted a comeback in game on before etching out a narrow win in game two against Augustana, completing a doubleheader sweep of the Vikings on Sunday afternoon.
Game 1 (ESU 10, AU 6)
Augustana struck first in the first game of the afternoon, scoring five runs in the second to take a 5-0 lead over the Hornets. Emporia State answered with three in the bottom half, capped off by
Taryn Burkhardt doubling down the left field line to make the score 5-3.
Chloe Wilson, who entered the game in the top of the second, pitched a clean third and set up the Hornets to pull level in their next at-bat, as RBI from
Elina Bartlett and
Addison Callaway made the score 5-5 through three innings.
The score remained 5-5 until the fifth, when Callaway picked up another RBI on a sac fly to put the Hornets ahead 6-5. Augustana then threatened in the sixth, putting two on with one out, forcing
Izzy Sloan to take over for Wilson and Sloan picked up two quick outs to end the inning and preserve the lead.
Emporia State picked up four insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth, first on an RBI single by
Mallory Moore that skipped off the third base bag into left field.
Brynley Smith then capped the inning with a home run, her second of the year, to plate three more and extend the lead to 10-5.
The Vikings picked up one run in the seventh but were kept at a distance as the Hornets won the first game 10-6.
A LOOK AT THE STATS
Emporia State had 12 hits with
Brynley Smith,
Addison Callaway and
Kinsey Perine each recording two of their own. The three also combined to drive in seven runs.
Chloe Wilson picked up her third win of the season, pitching 3.2 shutout innings in relief, while
Izzy Sloan picked up her third save as she recorded the final five outs.
Game 2 (ESU 3, AU 2)
Emporia State took the early lead in the second game, as a
Brooke Flewelling double put the Hornets ahead 1-0. After the early run by Emporia State, Hornet starter
Hannah Butterbaugh settled into a pitcher's duel against the Vikings, as the score remained 1-0 in favor of the Hornets through four frames.
Augustana picked up single runs in the fifth and sixth innings to take a 2-1 lead over the Hornets. Emporia State quickly answered back in the bottom of the sixth, as
Karli Wehunt opened the inning with a walk. After advancing to second on a sac bunt, she scored on a two-run homer by
Addison Callaway to put the Hornets in front.
In the seventh,
Izzy Sloan, who entered for Butterbaugh in the sixth, finished off her first win of the season with a pair of strikeouts to seal the 3-2 win for Emporia State, sealing the doubleheader sweep.
A LOOK AT THE STATS
Both teams tallied just five hits with all five hits for the Hornets going to five different players.
UP NEXT
MIAA action begins for Emporia State on Friday, March 13 as they host Rogers State in a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. from Trusler Sports Complex.
