Softball | 5/6/2026 10:43:00 AM

Games 46
Emporia State (28-17, 14-10 MIAA)
vs Central Missouri (33-17, 14-10 MIAA)
MIAA Quarterfinal
Thursday. May 7 | 1:30 PM 
Trusler Sports Complex | Emporia, Kan.
All-Time Series: ESU leads 68-51
Last Meeting: ESU 9, at UCM 6 4/29/2026 
Live Stats: themiaa.com/sidearmstats/softball/
Watch: The MIAA Network
Listen: KFFX 104.9FM www.kvoe.com

QUICK HITS
- Emporia State makes their 34th MIAA Tournament appearance when they take on Central Missouri.
- The Hornets are 74-41 all-time in the MIAA Tournament and have won a league best nine tournament championships since 2001.
- Emporia State and Central Missouri are meeting for the 13th time in MIAA Tournament history with the Hornets leading 9-3 all-time.
- The Hornets are hitting .316 as a team this season to rank fourth in the MIAA, while nine players are hitting at least .300 with at least 60 at bats.
- Emporia State leads the MIAA in triples with 22 on the season and ranks eighth in the nation in triples per game.
- In the circle, five different Hornets have pitched this season, with all five having started at least five games this year. 
- Emporia State went 14-7 through nonconference play, with five of their seven losses by just one run.

MEMORIES ARE MADE IN MAY 
Emporia State begins play in the MIAA Tournament against Central Missouri at the Trusler Sports Complex. The Hornets have won ten MIAA Tournament Championships, most recently in 2018. This is the 13th tournament meeting between Emporia State and Central Missouri.

LAST TIME OUT
Emporia State fell in a pair of one run games to Washburn on Saturday at the Trusler Sports Complex.
The Hornets overcame an early Ichabod lead to go ahead but could not hold on in a 5-4 loss in extra innings in the matinee. Taryn Burkhardt went two for four with an RBI while Brooke Flewelling had a solo home run.  Morgan Tomlinson allowed four runs on eight hits in 6.2 innings. Izzy Sloan took the loss allowing one run on two hits with a strikeout in 1.1 innings pitched.
In a back and forth game Emporia State came from three runs down in the fifth to tie the game but could not complete the comeback in a 7-6 loss in the nightcap. Leslie Ramos was two for three with two runs and two RBI while Kinsey Perine went one for three with two RBI as the Hornets were out hit 14-5 in the one run loss.
 
ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 28-17, 14-10 in the MIAA and are 3-5 against Association teams ranked in the top 20 at the time they played. The Hornets are leading the MIAA and are ranked eighth in the nation in triples per game while ranking fourth in the conference in batting average, slugging percentage and home runs per game. Brooke Flewelling is leading the MIAA and ranked ninth in the nation in home runs per game with 16 in 45 games and is second in the league with a .777 slugging percentage. Taryn Burkhardt is second in the MIAA in stolen base percentage with 31 thefts in 33 attempts and fourth in the MIAA in triples.
The Hornets have only given up 18 home runs on the season, the best mark in the MIAA. Freshman Hannah Butterbaugh's is seventh in the Association in ERA. Izzy Sloan has recorded four saves to rank third in the MIAA and 17th in the nation. Morgan Tomlinson leads the MIAA at 1.23 in walks per seven innings while Chloe Wilson's 1.58 ranks third.
Sydney Wagner is fourth in the MIAA and ranked 35th nationally with 2.45 assists per game.

SCOUTING THE JENNIES
Central Missouri is 33-17, 14-10 in the MIAA and are the #5 seed. They lead the MIAA and are ranked 18th in the nation in home runs with 50 on the season. Taylor Thompson leads the MIAA with 16 homers while Marissa Johnson is fifth with 13 round trippers. The Jennies lead the Association in getting hit by pitch, having been plunked 56 times this season. Riley Bebb is second in the MIAA in walks allowed per seven innings.

SERIES HISTORY
The Hornets lead the all-time series 68-51 with the road team winning the last 12 games. Prior to the current streak, the home team had won 13 straight in the series. Emporia State leads the series in MIAA Tournament play 9-3 and have won the last seven tournament meetings.  The two have met for the MIAA Championship twice with the Hornets winning in 2004 and 2008 in Shawnee, Kan.

LAST TIME AGAINST CENTRAL MISSOURI
In a key midweek matchup with MIAA Tournament and NCAA Central Region implications Emporia State swept Central Missouri on Wednesday in Warrensburg, Mo.  
The Hornets came from behind to post a 3-2 win in the matinee. Sydney Wagner was three for four and Brynley Smith went two for three with a run scored.  Addison Callaway had one hit but it was a two RBI triple while Ally Miller went one for three with sac fly and a run scored. Morgan Tomlinson went the distance in the circle, allowing two runs on eight hits in 7.0 innings. 
In a game that featured the top home run hitting team in the MIAA in Central Missouri and the team that gives up the fewest homers in Emporia State, it was the Hornets that used the long ball in a 9-6 win in the nightcap. Avery Brewer went two for four with two home runs and six RBI. Taryn Burkhardt and Ally Miller each went three for four with two runs scored and an RBI each.  Hannah Butterbaugh picked up the win allowing two runs on five hits in 3.2 innings while Izzy Sloan tossed 2.0 shutout innings for her fourth save of the season.

IN THE DUGOUTS
Megan Hill is 28-17 in her first season as the head coach for Emporia State. She joined the coaching staff in 2024, and went 30-15 to close out that season as acting coach while April Rosales was on maternity leave. She was 2-0 against UCM that season and 2-0 since being named head coach this season.   
Susan Anderson is 591-442 in her 20th season at Central Missouri and 772-614 in her 28th year overall. She is 14-33 against the Hornets.

IN THE CIRCLE
Hannah Butterbaugh (Fr./Lenexa, Kan.) was named Honorable Mention All-MIAA. She is 12-5 with a 2.39 ERA and team best 56 strikeouts.
Izzy Sloan (Jr./Indianola, IA) has become a staple in relief this season, as 24 of her 29 appearances have come in relief. She is 3-4 with a 3.76 ERA and her four saves are third in the MIAA.
Chloe Wilson (So./Kingwood, Texas) has a 4.23 ERA in 22 appearances with nine starts and holds a 5-4 record. She has given up just 12 walks in 53.0 innings pitched.
Morgan Tomlinson (Jr./Harveyville, Kan.) is 6-2 with a 4.24 ERA. She leads the MIAA with 1.23 walks allowed per seven innings.
Maci Hayes (Fr./Altus, Okla.) is 2-2 in nine appearances with a 3.13 ERA.  

BEHIND THE PLATE AND AT BAT
Designated Player Addison Callaway (Fr./Leavenworth, Kan.) is a Third-Team All-MIAA selection at DP. She has started 35 of 38 games this year and is batting .346 with a team best ten doubles.
Catcher Ally Miller (Jr./Olathe, Kan.) earned Honorable Mention All-MIAA at catcher. She is hitting .391 on the year with 21 RBI in 23 games played with 21 starts.  
Catcher/Designated Player Leslie Ramos (Sr./Grand Island, Neb.) has played in 27 games with 18 starts at either DP or catcher. She has a .373 OBP in 58 plate appearances with 13 runs scored and seven RBI.

AROUND THE HORN
First baseman Avery Brewer (Jr./Jenks, Okla.) was an Honorable Mention All-MIAA seletion. She has started 43 games and is hitting .321 with nine home runs and 37 RBI this season. She had six RBI against Central Missouri in game two including a grand slam home run.
Second baseman Brynley Smith (So./Wichita, Kan.) earned Honorable Mention All-MIAA honors. She has made 33 starts in 36 games played. She is hitting .301 with a .414 OBP,  five home runs, 17 RBI, 21 runs scored and has been hit by pitch at team high six times.
Shortstop Sydney Wagner (So./Buda, Texas) has started all 45 games and holds a .300 average. She has scored 2 7runs, drawn 13 walks and is reaching base at a .356 clip. She hit her first career home run against Washburn.
Third baseman Brooke Flewelling (Jr./Holton, Kan.) was named Second-Team All-MIAA. She leads the MIAA and ranks 14th in the nation with 16 home runs. She is ranked third on the Emporia State single season home run list and needs one to tie Miranda Campbell (17 HR in 2008) for second. Her 31 career homers are fourth on the Hornet career list.
Karli Wehunt (Jr./Shidler, Okla.) has made 12 starts at second base and is hitting .262 this season with two doubles, one home run, five RBI and six runs scored.
Mallory Moore (So./Flower Mound, Texas) has 12 starts this season and is hitting .256 while reaching base at a .347 clip. 

OUT IN THE FIELD
Elina Bartlett (Jr./Cheney, Kan.) has made 39 starts in her first season with the Hornets after transferring from Barton CC. She has a .357 OBP while driving in 19 runs and scoring 17 of her own. Bartlett has nine multi-hit games this season including a three for four effort at Neb.-Kearney.
Taryn Burkhardt (Sr./Silver Lake, Kan.) was a Third-Team All-MIAA selection and MIAA Gold Glove winner in centerfield. She is second in the MIAA in stolen base percentage with 31 steals in 33 attempts. She is fifth in the MIAA in stolen bases and fourth in triples. Burkhardt has eight multi-steal games this season including two games with three stolen bases.
Kinsey Perine (So./Rossville, Kan.) is hitting .301 with a .333 OBP this season while starting 41 games in right field. She has a team best five outfield assists this season. She has four triples this season to rank fifth in the MIAA.
Juliana De Luna (Jr./San Antonio, Texas) is in her third year with the Hornets and made nine starts. She has a .375 OBP with seven walks in 32 plate appearances and has scored seven runs with two steals and five RBI.

HORNET HISTORY
Emporia State has qualified for NCAA Regional play 13 times and finished as the NCAA Division II National Runners-up in 2006 and 2008. ESU won the NAIA National Championship in 1983 and 1984 and won the AIAW National Championship in 1980.
The Hornets were MIAA regular season champions four straight years from 2005-08 and MIAA Tournament champions seven straight years running from 2004-10. In the 21st Century, Emporia State has claimed the regular season title eight times (2005-08, 2010-12, 2014) and the tournament title nine times (2004-10, 2012, 2018).