Emporia State Softball took home four wins in a five-game opening series to start out the 2026 season.
The Hornets faced off against Lewis University, East Central University, Colorado School of Mines, Eastern New Mexico University and Southern Arkansas University in the tournament held in Mansfield, Texas.
Check out these highlights that helped the Hornets secure a 4-1 win on the weekend.
Singles, homers and a shutout win
Emporia State opened the season Friday with a 5-2 win over Lewis, using a four-run third inning followed by a two-run single from junior infielder Brooke Flewelling and a two-run homer by junior infielder Avery Brewer. Junior pitcher Izzy Sloan helped close the game out with a three-inning save.
Flewelling and junior utility Karli Wehunt each had two hits, Brewer completed two and the Hornets added an extra run when Wehunt and senior infielder Addyson Easter hit back-to-back ground-rule doubles.
Later, ESU won 8-0 in six innings against East Central, scoring five runs in the second inning and allowing only two hits in the scoreless win.
A six-run first, two homers and a stolen base
On Saturday, the Hornets got off to a fast start, scoring six runs in the first inning highlighted by Wehunt’s first career home run. Emporia State added to their lead with RBI hits from junior outfielder Juliana De Luna and a stolen home run by senior outfielder Taryn Burkhardt.
The Hornets managed to pull away in the fifth on a solo homer by sophomore infielder Brynley Smith and an additional RBI from Burkhardt. Freshman pitcher Maci Hayes allowed just one run to secure the 10-1 win.
Hornets clinch Greyhound matchup, fall against Southern Arkansas
The Hornets earned a 7-2 win against the Greyhounds Sunday in an early lead with a string of hits.
Junior catcher Ally Miller’s two-run single in the third made it 3-0, and despite the Greyhounds scoring in the sixth, Flewelling was able to complete a three-run homer and Brewer followed with a solo shot in a four-run inning. Flewelling finished with three RBI, while freshman pitcher Hannah Butterbaugh closed out the win in the pitcher’s circle.
In the weekend finale, the Hornets were defeated 2-1 to Southern Arkansas, with 10 runners on base despite multiple scoring chances. Flewelling homered in the seventh to trim the deficit, but ESU took the loss after allowing two runs over four innings.
Next, the Hornets will travel to Bentonville, Arkansas for a six-game weekend at the Alvy Early Classic. The first game is set to start at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 6. against William Jewell.
