Emporia State softball wrapped up their MIAA opening weekend by splitting a doubleheader with Pittsburg State last Friday at the Trusler Sports Complex. The Hornets fell in game one 4-3 and picked up a 5-3 win in game two to improve to 16-12 on the season and 3-1 in the conference.

Pittsburg State capitalized on two Hornet errors during the first inning of game one to take an early 2-0 lead. Caitlin VanVleck, junior outfielder, hit a solo home run to close the gap to 2-1 in the bottom of the first. The Gorillas scored one run in both the second and third inning to expand their lead 4-1. Danielle Sprinkle, junior outfielder, singled through the right side to score VanVleck in the bottom of the sixth to bring Emporia within two. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh Katie Yoakum, junior infielder, was hit by a pitch to bring in a run, but that was all the Hornets had left as the game ended in a 4-3 defeat.

In game two, the Gorillas scored a single run in the top of the first but were answered quickly with four Hornet runs in the bottom of the inning. Pittsburg State scored a run in the second and third to come within one at 4-3. Eryn Stockman, senior pitcher/infielder, scored on a passed ball in the bottom of the sixth to give Emporia State a 5-3 advantage. Stockman allowed no hits in the top of the seventh to close out the win. Stockman pitched a complete game, allowing just seven hits with no walks and a strikeout.

The Hornets will travel to Wichita to face Newman in a non-conference matchup on this Friday. The first pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 4 p.m. at the Newman Softball Fields.

Statistical information provided by Emporia State Athletics.