Editor’s note: This story was adapted from the original version published in our April 16 print edition titled “Looking ahead: What’s up next for Hornet athletics”. Changes to the Hornet athletics schedule were made following publication.
With the threat of severe weather, several changes have been made to the Hornet athletics schedule as Emporia State welcomes several teams in regional matchups this weekend.
Hornet baseball began a 6 p.m. single against the University of Central Missouri Mules at Trusler Sports Complex that went unchanged from the original athletics schedule. They will follow up the Friday game with a second on Saturday and finish out the series on Sunday.
The Hornets sit 15-11 in MIAA play and 28-12 overall for the 2025-26 season, and head into play against the Mules ranked No. 6 in the MIAA. The Mules are ranked No. 2 in the conference. This is the first time the Hornets have seen the Mules since taking a three-game loss to Central Missouri last spring.
Saturday holds a day of play for the Hornet women as women’s tennis welcomes Missouri Western and ESU Softball welcomes Northwest Missouri. Hornet Softball was originally scheduled to play the Bearcats on Friday and the Griffons on Saturday before the games were moved up by one day each.
Tennis will start the day at 11 a.m. with a series against the Griffons at the Kossover Family Tennis Center. The Griffons are ranked No.1 in the MIAA this season. In April 2025, the Hornets came out on top 5-2 against the Griffons.
Hornet Softball will take to the Trusler softball diamond at 2 p.m. to face off against the No. 8 Bearcats in game one of an afternoon doubleheader. Game two is scheduled to follow at 4 p.m. They will go on to play the Griffons Sunday at noon and 2 p.m. in another doubleheader.
The Hornets, who are ranked sixth in the MIAA heading into the weekend, are 23-14 overall and 9-7 in conference play. They split their last doubleheader against the Bearcats in April 2025 when they lost game one 4-3 but rallied back to take the second in a scoreless 2-0 game for the Bearcats. The Hornets fell in both games to the Griffons, who are currently ranked No. 10, in that same season.
Sunday will also see Hornet tennis welcome the Bearcats for a series originally scheduled for Friday.
The Hornet women are set to play in the morning against the No. 2 Bearcats beginning at 10 a.m. at Kossover. The No. 6 Hornets are currently 2-3 and 8-8 respectively in the MIAA and overall standings. The Bearcats head into Sunday 5-1 in conference play and 14-3 overall. The Hornets have an 11-match losing streak with the Bearcats, last winning a match against the Missouri foes during the 2013-14 season 5-4 at home.
The Hornet and Bearcat men will follow suit and take to the courts at 2 p.m. following the conclusion of the women’s series. The Hornet men sit 8-7 overall and 2-1 in conference play as they face off against the No. 2-ranked Bearcats.
The No. 3 Hornets took a 4-3 loss in an April 18 matchup with Northwest Missouri last spring in Maryville. The loss added to their 14-match losing streak against the Bearcats that has accrued since the 2011-12 season.
