April 10, 2026-Emporia State earned a split of their double header at #18 Central Oklahoma on Friday. The Hornets won 3-2 in the second game after falling 9-0 in five innings in the first game.
Game One #18 UCO 9, ESU 0
The Hornets were held to just two hits in the 9-0 loss in the matinee.
With two outs in the bottom of the first the Bronchos would score eight runs on four hits to take control of the game. UCO led 3-0 and had the bases loaded when
Morgan Tomlinson came on in relief of starter
Hannah Butterbaugh in the circle for ESU. After a hit batter made it 4-0 Rylee Lemos delivered the big blow of the game with a grand slam to make it 8-0. The Bronchos would add another run in the second to go up 9-0.
The Hornets reached base on an error and three walks through the first four innings but were held without a hit until
Ally Miller led off the fifth with a single. She was erased on a line drive double play in the next batter before
Kinsey Perine doubled. She would be left on second and the game would end after five innings.
Game Two ESU 3, #18 UCO 2
The Hornet pitching staff allowed just two runs on ten hits and the offense took advantage of a Broncho error in the seventh to post a 3-2 win in the nightcap.
UCO scored first on an RBI double by Brooklyn Ryan two batters into the bottom of the first but
Chloe Wilson was able to leave her stranded with three straight outs. Emporia State was able to tie the score in the fourth when
Addison Callaway reached on a one out bunt single, went to second on a wild pitch and scored on
Brynley Smith's single to left center.
Juliana D Luna walked to lead off the top of the seventh.
Kinsey Perine laid down a bunt and Broncho third baseman Sherri Mason's throw hit her in the helmet and ricocheted away allowing De Luna to score from first and Perine to get to second base. A
Taryn Burkhardt ground out advanced Perine to third and
Sydney Wagner gave ESU an insurance run with a single to right field.
Izzy Sloan, who had come on in relief of Wilson to start the fifth, got two outs to start the bottom of the seventh Rylee Anglen reached on a bunt single and Rylee Lemos followed with a single to put the tying run on base. Brooklyn Ryan singled back up the middle to score Anglen, making it 3-2, and the Hornets brought Wilson back in to get the final out as she foul out to end the game.
The Hornets got one hit each from
Taryn Burkhardt,
Sydney Wagner,
Addison Callaway,
Brynley Smith and
Ally Miller with Burkhardt getting a double while Wagner and Smith each had an RBI.
Izzy Sloan gave up one run on five hits in 2.2 innings to earn the save while Wilson worked 4.1 innings around her and finished the game to get her first save.
UP NEXT
The Hornets will travel to Warrensburg, Mo. on Sunday for a double header with Central Missouri. First pitch from the South Rec Complex is set for 1:00 p.m.
NOTES
The win was the Hornets third against a top 20 team this season
