The Emporia State softball team split their doubleheader Saturday at Fort Hays State. The Lady Hornets trounced the Tigers 15-7 in a run-rule in game one. ESU took the early lead 4-0 thanks to a single by Avery Brewer in the second and a two-run homer by Brooke Flewelling in the third. E-State gave up six unearned runs in the bottom of the inning to cough up the lead, but roared back in front by stacking 11 runs in the top of the fifth. Brynley Smith led off the inning with a solo shot before Ally Miller tied the game on a home run. Sydney Wagner drove in two with a triple and the rout was on as ESU scored 11 on eight hits in the inning. Miller went 3-for-4 and drove in three runs and Flewelling also had three RBI’s. Chloe Wilson (4-3) pitched the final 2.1 innings of the five-inning game to take the win.
The Tigers turned it around in game two though with an 8-3 decision to split the series. The Lady Hornets used three extra-base hits in the first to score two but Fort Hays State answered with two to tie it back up. Taryn Burkhardt picked up her second RBI of the game to push E-State back in front in the second, but the Tigers scored the last six runs of the game and outhit ESU 14-5 overall to take the win. Maci Hayes (2-2) pitched 0.2 innings in relief for ESU walking three to take the loss. E-State (22-13, 8-6 MIAA) is halfway through an eight-game road swing and continues it Friday with two games at Central Oklahoma.
