PITTSBURG, Kan. -- The Pittsburg State softball team will finally play its home opener on Friday, March 15 against Northeastern State in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. The game will also be the conference opener for the Gorillas.

The day starts a streak of eight straight games at home including doubleheaders against No. 8 Central Oklahoma on Saturday, March 16 at 1 p.m., Northwestern Oklahoma State on Tuesday, March 19 at 2 p.m. and Winona State at noon on Wednesday, March 20. 

The RiverHawks come into Friday's game with an 8-12 overall record. Prior to a win in the second game of a doubleheader against Arkansas Tech on Wednesday, the team had lost eight straight games. The RiverHawks are hitting .315 (168-534) as a team with 29 doubles, four triples and 14 home runs. They have scored 110 runs with 100 RBI. The Northeastern State pitchers have a 5.10 ERA and allow opponents a .309 batting average. In 125.0 innings, they have struck out 63 batters and walked 52. 

Five Northeastern State batters hit over .300, lead by Lisa Ripperger with a .436 batting average. She leads the team in doubles with five. Navada Campos leads the team in RBI with 18 and home runs with five. Saharra Henson is the leading run scorer with 17 runs scored.

Kayce Wooldridge is the RiverHawks top pitcher with a 3-6 record and a 2.79 ERA. She has thrown five complete games with one shutout. In 47.2 innings, she has 17 strikeouts and six walks.

Central Oklahoma in the No. 8 team in the country according to the latest NFCA Coaches Top 25 poll. The Bronchos have a 14-4 record, but will play Missouri Southern in Joplin on Friday before coming to Pittsburg on Saturday. The Bronchos are on a four-game win streak with doubleheader victories over Southern Nazarene and Newman.

UCO is a strong hitting team with a .353 batting average (177-501). The team already has 22 home runs and 19 doubles with two triples on the season. The team has scored 112 runs with 98 RBI. The Bronchos have three pitchers that have combined for a 2.48 team ERA and allow opponents only a .241 batting average. in 118.2 innings, they have recorded 120 strikeouts and only 50 walks.

Ally Dziadula leads eight Bronchos hitting over .300 with a .463 batting average. She also leads the team with 18 runs scored. Kacie Edwards hits .446 and leads the team with seven home runs. Nicole Workman is the team's RBI leader with 21 and also leads in doubles with six.

Kalynn Schrock leads the Broncho pitchers with a 1.63 ERA and an 8-2 record with two saves. In 68.2 innings, she has sat down 89 batters, while walking only 18.

Pitt State is now 10-4 after its doubleheader sweep of Drury on Wednesday night. The Gorillas are hitting .312 (130-417) as a team with a .475 slugging percentage and a .369 on base percentage. The Gorillas have 18 doubles, one triple and 16 home runs on the season. They have scored 85 runs with 75 RBI. The Pitt State pitchers have a 2.09 ERA and allow opponents only a .247 batting average. In 94.0 innings, the PSU pitchers have struck out 68 batters and walked 42.

Tiffany Brown leads six Pitt State batters hitting over .300 with a .412 batting average. Katelyn Birchfield also hits right at .400. Brown leads the team with five home runs and a .745 slugging percentage. Birchfield and Brenna George lead the Gorillas with 14 runs scored a piece. She is just behind Brown with four home runs on the season. George also leads the team in stolen bases with seven in eight attempts. Cheslyn Mitchell has a .391 batting average and leads the team with 17 RBI and six doubles.

Haleigh Sills leads Pitt State's pitchers with a 1.42 ERA. She has a 3-1 record. Kyndel Shelburn leads the Gorillas with a perfect 4-0 record. She has thrown two shutouts on the season and has a 1.98 ERA. She allows opponents only a .218 batting average. She has thrown 35.1 innings and leads the team with 40 strikeouts.