Spring sports were in full swing this weekend for Emporia State athletics.
The softball team dominated with a sweep at Newman outscoring the Jets a combined 21-2 at the NU Softball Field in Wichita, Kan. The Lady Hornets won the first game 7-1. The Jets scored first but didn’t dent the scoreboard again until the bottom of the third inning in the second game of the doubleheader. Brooke Flewelling hit her 11th home run of the season while Hannah Butterbaugh (9-2) tossed a complete game victory. Addison Callaway, Ally Miller, and Kinsey Perine each had two hits in the game. E-State pounded the Jets for six runs in the first and third innings on the way to a 14-1 run-rule victory in five innings in game two. Callaway doubled in two runs while Avery Brewer left the yard in the first with a three-run blast. A Callaway single in the third cleared the bases before Elina Bartlett doubled in two more runs. Morgan Tomlinson (5-1) pitched 3.0 innings to take the win. ESU (19-8, 5-1 MIAA) opens a four-game homestand Friday against Pittsburg State.
The outdoor track & field team made its outdoor season debut at the Spring Fling at Rock Charlk Park on Saturday with six event titles. Barbara Bentum had the best weekend for the Lady Hornets winning the 200m dash with the second-best time in school history at 23.92 before pulling a double gold with a win in the 400m dash. Israel Domeh registered a provisional qualifier to win the men’s 200m and was the runner up in the 400m. Emmanuel Dukpe won the men’s 400m and was second behind Domeh in the 200m dash. Brooks Low threw the javelin 201 ft.-9 in. to win the men’s javelin while Jayda Harris claimed the triple jump title with a leap of 36 ft.-11 3/4 in. ESU celebrates Opening Day for the outdoor season Friday as they host the ESU Spring Open at Welch Stadium.
The baseball team completed a four-game sweep of New Mexico Highlands on Sunday at the Trusler Sports Complex in Emporia. The Hornets obliterated the Cowboys in a doubleheader sweep on Saturday outscoring Highlands a combined 26-1. The Hornets won game one 13-0 in a seven-inning run-rule. Frankie Santiago cranked his 11th home run of the season as ESU scored three in the first, four in the fourth, and five in the fifth. Aaron Gallimore had a pinch-hit home run late in the game. Colby Deaver (7-1) surrendered just three hits in his 6.0 innings to take the win. The Hornets run-ruled the Cowboys again in game two with a 13-1 decision in seven innings. The Hornets scored in every at bat of the game and bashed three home runs in the game from Evan Abbott, Cooper Schwindt, and Austin Lynn. The Hornets used Jake Khasaempanth as the opener for the game and Grayson Barnes (1-0) struck out the side in the fifth to earn the win. In game four of the series on Sunday, Quinton Chindamo (1-3) picked up his first win of the year by tossing six shutout innings and striking out nine in a 4-1 Hornet win. Grant Huffman pitched the ninth for his fifth save of the season. Schwindt finished 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI. E-State starts their second midweek MIAA series Tuesday hosting Fort Hays State at 3:00 p.m.
