Game 1 Box | Game 2 Box | Season Stats
TOPEKA, Kan. -- The Pittsburg State softball team scored 18 runs on its way to a split in an MIAA doubleheader at Washburn on Friday (April 20) afternoon. The Gorillas lost game one, 9-8, but came back to win game two, 10-7.
The Gorillas fell 9-8 in game one. Each team had 11 hits in the game. Washburn committed three errors, while the Gorillas had only one.
Pitt State started the game with a 3-0 lead. A Mannie DeCastro home run, her 15th of the season, in the first inning, put Pitt State up 2-0. In the top of the third back-to-back base hit by Tiffany Brown and Kreslee Ketcham brought home Cheslyn Mitchell for a 3-0 lead.
Neither team scored in the fourth. A lead off walk in the bottom of the fifth and three straight base hits led to Washburn scoring its first run of the game to narrow the Pitt State lead to 3-1.
The Lady Blues put together a big eight-run sixth inning, which was capped by an Alex Zordel grand slam to give her team a six-run, 9-3, advantage going into the final inning.
Pitt State answered with a big inning of their own in the top of seventh. Devon McCreath was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Brenna George beat out a bunt single. Mitchell hit a single to left to load the bases. DeCastro reached on a fielder’s choice, but a Washburn error left all runners safe and allowed McCreath to score. Brown hit a bases clearing three-RBI double to bring the Gorillas within two at 9-7 with no outs in the inning. Ketcham walked, moving Brown into scoring position for Kayla Sears who knocked a double to right to score Brown and bring the Gorillas within one. The scoring stopped there though, as Washburn brought in a new pitcher, who despite walking McCreath to load the bases, was able to record the three outs to end the inning.
Mitchell and Brown were each 3-for-4 from the plate in the game. Mitchell, George and DeCastro each scored two runs, while DeCastro and Brown each brought in three RBI.
Hilary Erbert started and pitched 5.1 innings in the loss for Pitt State. She gave up nine hits and four runs. Only two of the runs was earned. Jessica Barnes relieved Erbert for one-third of an inning, giving up five runs on two hits. None of the runs were earned.
Game two stayed close until the end. Pitt State cored its 10 runs on 12 hits and five Washburn errors. Washburn scored seven runs on eight hits and one Pitt State error.
Pitt State got on board first in the opening frame. With one out, Mitchell hit a single through the right side. DeCastro followed with a double to left center. An infield base hit by Ketcham scored Mitchell for a 1-0 lead.
Washburn answered with a run on two hits in the bottom of the inning.
Neither team scored in the second, but Pitt State was able to take a one-run lead in the third. With two outs, DeCastro recorded a base hit up the middle. A fielding and throwing error on Brown's at bat allowed DeCastro to score to put Pitt State up 2-1.
The Gorillas added two more runs in the fourth to take a 4-1 lead. Sears started the inning with a base hit to left. Bailey Marcotte came in to pinch run for her. Katelyn Birchfield reached on a Washburn error. With one out, Devon McCreath was hit by a pitch to load the bases. After a second out, Mitchell knocked a single to left, bringing home Marcotte. The second Washburn error of the inning allowed Birchfield to score.
The Lady Blues closed the gap to one run, 4-3, in the bottom of the fifth as they scored two runs on a hit and a Gorilla error. Another run on two hits in the sixth tied the game at 4-4.
The Pitt State bats found a way to pull ahead in the top of the seventh with a six-run inning. George was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Mitchell reached on a error. DeCastro drove a double to center to score George and move Mitchell to third. Brown hit a sacrifice fly to right to bring home Mitchell for the RBI. Ketcham added a base hit, which also bumped DeCastro to third. A Sears RBI base hit to left brought home DeCastro, still with only one out in the inning. Birchfield added another hit, scoring Ketcham. A Riley Campbell base hit up the middle scored Sears and Birchfield for the 10-4 lead.
Washburn threatened in the bottom of the seventh. The team added three runs on three hits, but the Gorilla defense held fast to prevent any further runs from scoring to end game two with the 10-7 win.
Mitchell threw 6.1 innings to improve to 7-2 on the season. Tiffany Brown entered the game in the bottom of the seventh to throw the final two outs.
DeCastro lead the team with a 3-for-4 performance from the plate. She scored two runs and had one RBI. Birchfield went 2-for-3 with two runs and one RBI. Mitchell, Ketcham and Sears were each 2-for-4 with an RBI. Mitchell scored two runs while Sears and Ketcham each scored one.
Pitt State will finish regular season play on Saturday against Fort Hays State in Hays. The doubleheader will begin at 1 p.m.
