The Emporia State softball team started its Easter weekend road trip by sweeping Nebraska-Kearney in a doubleheader on Friday. The Hornets pulled away late for a 15-4 victory in game one. E-State built a 6-0 lead with Brooke Flewelling cranking two home runs to give her 13 on the year as she drove in three early. UNK got on the board with three in the bottom of the fourth, but E-State outscored the Lopers 8-1 the rest of the way. Julianna De Luna cleared the bases with an inside-the-park home run in the seventh. Hannah Butterbaugh (10-4) lasted 3.2 innings to get the win.
The Lady Hornets shutout the Lopers after the first inning in game two to sweep 5-3. ESU scored early in the first thanks to a UNK wild pitch and a Brynley Smith single, but Kearney took the lead with three runs in the bottom of the inning. Avery Brewer tied the game with a triple in the third and she later scored on an Ally Miller single to give ESU the lead. Flewelling knocked in an insurance run with a triple in the seventh. Macy Hayes (2-1) picked up the win in relief shutting out UNK over the last five innings and surrendering just two hits.
E-State (21-12, 7-5 MIAA) is back in Kansas Saturday for a doubleheader at Fort Hays State starting at 1:00 p.m.
