Game 1 Box | Game 2 Box | Season Stats
WARRENSBURG, Mo. — Pitt State lost both games of a MIAA doubleheader to Central Missouri on Saturday (April 14) by a total of two runs, falling 4-3 in game one and 10-9 in eight innings in game two.
The score in game one volleyed between the two teams throughout the game, but Central Missouri got the last word in the bottom of the seventh. Pitt State scored its three runs on four hits and two UCM errors, while Central scored four runs on seven hits.
The Jennies took an early 1-0 in the bottom of the first on two hits. Jaydee Young started her team with a one out base hit, then stole second. A Jakki Prater double scored Young for the lead.
Pitt State tied the game in the top of the fourth. Cheslyn Mitchell led off the inning with a double. Mannie DeCastro followed with a base hit that pushed Mitchell all the way to third. With one out, a Kayla Sears sacrifice fly scored Mitchell to knot the game at 1-1.
The tie was short lived however, as the Jennies plated a second run in the bottom of the fourth to go up 2-1.
The Gorillas then quickly answered with two runs in the next half inning. With two outs, Brenna George reached on an error. Mitchell grabbed a base hit and then advanced on an error that allowed George to score and tie the game at 2-2. DeCastro stepped up and blasted a double to left, scoring Mitchell and giving the Gorillas a 1-run lift.
Central Missouri added one run on two hits in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game at 3-3. Another run on two more hits, including the final walk off single by Katie Groeger in the bottom of the seventh gave the Jennies the 4-3 win.
Hilary Erbert pitched the first five innings. Jessica Barnes entered the game in the bottom of the sixth to take the loss. Each pitcher gave up only two runs, Erbert’s on three hits and Barnes’ on four.
Both teams tallied double digit hits in game two, with Pitt State scoring nine runs on 14 hits and two Central Missouri errors. The Jennies scored 10 runs on 13 hits and three Pitt State errors.
The Jennies grabbed an early 5-0 lead, scoring two runs in the first and three runs in the second.
The Gorillas came back strong with six runs in the top of the third. Mac Rynard reached on an error to start the inning, but was put out at second as McCreath reached on a fielder’s choice. George drove a base hit to left and both runners moved into scoring position on a passed ball. A double by Mitchell put Pitt State on the board for the first time in game two, as she drove home both McCreath and George. DeCastro continued the hitting with a base hit, moving Mitchell to third. DeCastro then stole second to put two runners in scoring position. Tiffany Brown and Kreslee Ketcham hit back-to-back RBI singles to score Mitchell and DeCastro. Kayla Sears drew a walk to load the bases. Molly Stiens drove home two more runs with a double to put Pitt State up 6-5.
Central Missouri quickly got the lead back with two runs in the bottom of the third to go up 7-6.
Pitt State tied the game at 7-7 in the next half inning as George scored on a Mitchell double to center.
Two Jennies runs crossed the plate on three hits in the bottom of the fourth to put the home team up 9-7.
The Gorillas again showed fortitude as they worked to tied the game with one run in each the sixth and seventh innings to tie the game at 9-9.
In the sixth, Tiffany Brown drew a two-out walk. Ketcham followed with a base hit and Sears added an RBI base hit to bring the game within one.
Mitchell also overcame the odds in the seventh as she hit her third double of the game with two outs in the inning. DeCastro drew a walk before Brown knocked Mitchell in with a base hit to left.
The Gorillas allowed to base hits with one out in the bottom of the third, but were able to hold the Jennies and send the game into extra innings.
Pitt State started well in the top of the eight as Sears was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a Stiens sacrifice bunt. After a Jennies pitching change, Sears moved just 60 feet from the 10th run of the game on a wild pitch, but the next two batters struck out to end the inning.
Two hits and a sacrifice was all Central Missouri needed to score the game winning run in the bottom of the eighth, resulting in the 10-9 Pitt State loss.
Mitchell pitched the first three innings before being relieved by Hilary Erbert, who received the loss. Mitchell gave up seven runs on six hits, with only three of those runs being earned. Erbert gave up only three runs on seven hits.
Pitt State will play its final home games of the season on Tuesday (April 17) at 4 and 6 p.m. against Arkansas Tech at the PSU Softball Complex.
