May 7, 2026 – Emporia State softball used a five-run fourth frame and a complete game shutout in the circle by
Morgan Tomlinson to take down Central Missouri 7-0 in the MIAA Quarterfinals Thursday afternoon at the Trusler Sports Complex.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Both teams went down in order in the first, before Emporia State became the first offense to threaten in the bottom of the second.
Ally Miller singled to leadoff the frame and after a hit by pitch to
Avery Brewer and a wild pitch, the Hornets had two in scoring position with no outs. However, the Hornets left both on base to keep the score knotted at 0-0.
The score remained 0-0 through the third, and despite Emporia State starter
Morgan Tomlinson finally allowing her first hit in the top of the fourth, she worked around it to keep the game scoreless.
Emporia State's breakthrough finally came in the bottom half of the fourth, as the Hornets did their damage with two outs. With Brewer and
Brynley Smith in scoring position,
Elina Bartlett tripled to right field, scoring both and putting the Hornets ahead 2-0.
Kinsey Perine followed with an RBI single to score Bartlett and then came around to score herself as she stole second before coming around to score on a throwing error. Two more errors by the Jennies allowed Emporia State to cap the inning with a fifth run.
The five-run frame proved more than enough for Tomlinson on Thursday, as she quickly retired the Jennies in the top of the fifth to bring the Hornets back to the plate. Emporia State would add two more to their total in the bottom half, as
Addison Callaway drove in one with a sacrifice fly before
Elina Bartlett picked up her third RBI with a single to left to make the score 7-0.
Tomlinson capped the day by working around two hits in the sixth and then retiring Central Missouri in order as the Hornets sealed the 7-0 win to move onto the MIAA Semifinals.
A LOOK AT THE STATS
Emporia State had eight hits with
Avery Brewer and
Elina Bartlett both tallying two of their own. Bartlett drove in three runs while
Kinsey Perine and
Addison Callaway each drove in one of their own.
Morgan Tomlinson tossed a complete game shutout while allowing just three hits and striking out five. The outing marked Tomlinson's second career complete game and first career shutout. Her five strikeouts also set a new career high.
UP NEXT
Emporia State will take on top-seeded Missouri Southern in the MIAA Semifinals on Friday, May 8. First pitch between the Hornets and Lions is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. at the Trusler Sports Complex.
NOTES
Emporia State is now 75-41 all-time in the MIAA Tournament.
The Hornets are now 10-3 all-time vs Central Missouri in the MIAA Tournament.
The 7-0 win marks the first Emporia State shutout in the MIAA Tournament since a 3-0 win over Washburn in 2018 when the Hornets went on to win the tournament.
