The Emporia State softball team picked up a split with #18 Central Oklahoma in Edmond, Okla. on Friday. The day didn’t start well with the Bronchos dominating the Lady Hornets in a 9-0 run rule victory in five innings. The Bronze & Blue scored eight runs in the bottom of the first and E-State managed just two hits in the game. Hannah Butterbaugh (10-5) couldn’t complete the inning and gave up six runs on three hits with three walks to take the loss.
ESU turned it around in game two with a 3-2 win. UCO scored first in the first inning but it was just one run this time and ESU tied it on a Brynley Smith single in the fourth. The Lady Hornets took the lead thanks to a Broncho error in the seventh before Sydney Wagner added insurance with an RBI. The Cho’s found a run in the bottom of the seventh but couldn’t tie the game. Chloe Wilson started the game tossing 4.1 innings total but picked up the save coming in for the final out as Izzy Sloan (2-2) tossed 2.2 innings of relief surrendering just one run. ESU (23-14, 9-7 MIAA) returns to action Sunday traveling to Central Missouri.
Edit: ESU and UCM have moved their games from Sunday. Time TBD.
