Lady Spartan softball entered Thursday at the 3A State Softball Championships knowing what it would take to make it to the championship round, don’t lose. In the one-loss bracket already the first team they faced Morgan, proved to be a tough opponent but Emery fought through and earned an 11-7 win. In the second game, they faced Providence Hall, the No. 5 team in 3A, and it was also close, but the Spartans were handed their second loss 6-3, ending their season.

In the opening game of the day for the Spartans they faced the Morgan Trojans (11-11, 5-3, No. 7). Emery jumped out to a quick lead in the first, already up 2-0, Madi Bunnell came to the plate, Madison Luke would score on a steal of home, and Bunnell would hit a double to center bringing in Brooklynn Ekker to push the score to 4-0.

The Spartans added two more runs in the second, and in the fourth Shannon Johnson sent a single to right to put Emery up 9-0.

Emery added two more runs in the fifth and shutdown a Trojan rally in the seventh ending the game when Rheagan Rhoten would get Morgan’s Callie Averett swinging to collect the final out and secure the win, 11-7.

Ekker was 2-3 from the plate, collecting three RBI’s and a pair of runs scored. Katelyn Nielson was 2-4 with a pair of runs and Emjae Adair went 2-5 with a pair of runs and RBI’s.

On the mound, Aspen Taylor got the start going six innings surrendering three earned runs on eight hits and striking out three. Rhoten came in to close out the game giving up four hits and striking out one.

The Lady Spartans had a little time off after the win, not taking the field against Providence Hall (20-7, 8-0, No. 5) until 7 p.m..

This game was a little tighter with Providence Hall holding a 3-0 lead through four. In the top of the fifth, Emery would get on the board with the score already 3-1, Ekker sent a grounder to center driving in Adair making the score 3-2.

The Lady Spartans were able to tack on one more run in the top of the sixth to cut the score to 4-2 but that was as close as they could get, and Providence Hall put up two more in the bottom half of the inning to take the 6-3 win.

Ekker went 3-4 at the plate with an RBI, and Adair, Bunnell, and Madi Thomas each had a run scored.

Taylor was on the mound giving up six earned on nine hits with four strikeouts.

The Lady Spartans ended their season 14-12 overall with a 4-4 region mark and held the No. 8 spot in the final RPI.

Check back in the coming weeks for a full review of the Emery softball season.