The Emporia State softball team traveled to the Southeastern Oklahoma State Tournament in Durant, Oklahoma to open their 2017 campaign with six games over the weekend.

The Hornets had an early lead in both games on opening day last Friday.

Marly Carmona, junior infielder, drove in Jacie Stephens, senior catcher, in the second inning to give the Hornets a 1-0 advantage against Oklahoma Christian. Junior pitcher Holly Hinkel gave up a two-run homer in the bottom of the second that put the Eagles ahead 2-1. The first six Eagles reached base to start the fifth in an inning that was capped by a two-run homer from Niki Davidson that made it 8-1. Bridget White hit a solo home run to invoke the run rule as the OCU took the game 9-1.

ESU fell 3-1 to Arkansas Tech in game two of the tournament. Three consecutive Hornet singles gave them a 1-0 lead with two outs in the third. A two-run homer gave Arkansas Tech a 2-1 advantage the next inning and the Golden Suns would plate an insurance run in the fifth to take a 3-1 victory.

ESU split day two with a 3-1 loss to East Central and a 1-0 walk-off win against Southwestern Oklahoma State. The two teams were scoreless in game two of the day until the seventh inning. Hailey Cope, junior infielder, hit a walk-off single to score McKenna Davis, junior outfielder, and give the Hornets a 1-0 win.

The Hornets dropped both games in the final day of the tournament on Sunday. Emporia State fell 4-2 to Cameron and 12-5 to host Southeastern Oklahoma, leaving the tournament with a 1-5 record.

Statistical information was provided by ESU Athletics.