BENTONVILLE, Ark. – Truman State Softball split a pair in day one action in Arkansas at Monticello's Alvy Early Memorial Tournament.
 
The Bulldogs responded to an Opening Day 2025 loss versus Emporia State (Kan.) with a 7-4 win but surrendered seven runs in the final two innings against Northeastern State (Okla.) to fall 8-4 in the nightcap.
 
Day 2 at the Alvy Early tomorrow sees the 2-4 Bulldogs opening play at 11 a.m. against Southeastern Oklahoma State with a 1:30 first pitch against tournament-host Arkansas at Monticello.
 
Emporia State 4, Truman State 7
Maddie Hickman and Emily Wood powered a three-run sixth, including Wood's first home run of the season, to break a four-all tie and lift the Bulldogs over Emporia State (Kan.) by a 7-4 final. The win ends the season series between the two at a win each after the Hornets won the season opener Feb. 1 at the DII Leadoff Classic in Branson, Mo., 2-1.
 
Truman State took advantage of two Hornet errors in the bottom of the first to score three unearned runs. A Bulldog error in the top of the second allowed Emporia State to get two unearned runs of its own then knot the score at three all middle three.
 
The bottom of the third looked promising with a lead-off walk to Wood who swiped second but was out at the dish attempting to score on an Avaree Taylor single. Three consecutive singles from Charlotte Chelich, Caragan Baker, and Kyleia Salyars brought in Madi McCarty to score after McCarty entered to run for Taylor. 
 
A lead-off single by Emporia State was erased on a fielder's choice before the Hornets tripled across the tying run. Ryleigh Jones reached on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the sixth then scored the go-ahead run after advancing on an error by the Hornet right fielder. Wood finished the scoring with her first home run of the season netting two RBI.
 
Kaylyn Jones struck out seven while walking two in 3.2 innings surrendering three. Lydia Feiste picked up the win in 3.1 innings pitched, her first decision in the Purple and White, despite surrendering five walks.
 
Truman State 4, Northeastern Oklahoma St. 8
Seven Northeastern Oklahoma State combined runs in the fifth and sixth innings provided the margin needed to sink the Bulldogs in the second game of the day, 8-4.
 
Truman State responded to a four-run fifth by Northeastern Oklahoma State with three of its own in the top of the sixth, but the three runs surrendered by the 'Dogs in the bottom of the sixth sealed the Riverhawk win.
 
Scoreless after two, Cassie Smith singled on a line drive to center to plate Michaela Goad, but the Bulldogs would give the run back in the bottom half of the third on a double to right. The 1-1 tie held until bottom five when Kaylyn Jones relieved Chelich after a leadoff double. Jones got her first batter swinging for the inning's first out before a Riverhawk home run combined with a Bulldog error gave Northeastern Oklahoma State three runs and a 4-1 advantage after five.
 
Smith got some Truman State trouble brewing in the top of the sixth with a lead-off single and steal of second. Wood followed with a walk and moved to third on a Fieste single that scored Smith. A Baker double scored Wood and McCarty, running for Feiste, to get the Purple and White within one going into the bottom of the sixth, 5-4. Brooke Nutter, the third Truman State pitcher on the day, loaded the bases on a walk, single, and hit by pitch when a Riverhawk double cleared the bases to get the three runs back. Smith kept the game going with a top-of-the-seventh single and stolen base before a line-drive out by Taylor ended any would-be rally.