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Game 1 Box | Game 2 Box | Season Stats (html version)

ST. CHARLES, Mo. -- After rolling to 14-2 game one win, the Pittsburg State softball team had to overcome its own errors and  4-2 deficit in game two to win 6-4 at Lindenwood on Friday (March 22). The Gorillas are now 16-8 overall and 4-2 in MIAA play.

Pitt State scored its six runs on eight hits and two Lindenwood errors. LIndenwood scored four runs on six hits and three Pitt State errors. Only one of the four Lindenwood runs were earned by the Pitt State pitchers, due to the fielding errors.

Lindenwood took an early 3-0 lead in game two, scoring one run in the first inning and two in the third.

Pitt State had only three hits through the first three innings. Kreslee Ketcham hit a home run with one out in the fourth the get the Gorillas on the board. 

The Gorilla brought the game within one run in the top of the fifth. Jordan Bradshaw drew a leadoff walk. Cheslyn Mitchell drew the second walk of the inning with one out. Bradshaw stole third. Brenna George was safe on a fielder's choice as the Lions tried to throw Bradshaw out at the plate, but Bradshaw beat the throw to make the score 3-2.

Lindenwood stretched the lead back to two runs in its half of the fifth, as a hit and a Gorilla error led to a run and a 4-2 lead for the home team. 

Pitt State had a big inning in the top of the sixth. Sam Grove drew a leadoff walk. Kayla Sears reached on an error. Catie Cummins came in to pinch run for Grove and Devon McCreath for Sears. Bradshaw drew a walk to load the bases. Stiens reached on a fielder's choice at the Lindenwood defense tried to get Cummins at the plate, but an error on the play allowed both Cummins and McCreath to score to tie the game at 4-4 with no outs in the inning. A base hit by Mitchell brought home Bradshaw for a one-run Gorilla lead. Stiens advanced to second but was thrown out at third trying to take an extra base for the first out of the inning. George earned a base hit and Brown walked to load the bases once again. Birchfield drove a sacrifice fly to right to allow Mitchell to score for the final 6-4 score.

Grove pitched the first three innings. She gave up three runs, only one of which was earned. Barnes pitched fourth and fifth innings and was the pitcher of record when the Gorillas took the lead to earn the win and improve to 1-1 on the season. She gave up one run which was not earned. Kyndel Shelburn pitched the final two innings, giving up only one walk and striking out five to earn her second save of the year.

The Pitt State bats were strong in game two, as the team scored 14 runs on 16 hits and four Lindenwood errors. Kreslee Ketcham led teh team with a 4-for-4 performance with four RBI, three runs scored and a walk. This performance combined with her two against Winona State saw Ketcham reach base safely in 14 consecutive plate apperances. Jordan Bradshaw was also impressive, going 2-for-2 with two home runs, two runs scored, four RBI and three walks. In all, six Gorillas had multiple hits on the game.

Each team scored two runs in the first inning. Pitt State went up 3-2 in the top of the second with Bradshaw's first home run of the day.

Pitt State added five more runs on five hits, including a big three-run home run by Bradshaw, two walks and a Lion error.

Another error and a double by Kayla Sears resulted in another run and a 9-2 Pitt State lead in the top of the sixth.

PItt State scored its final five runs in the top of the seventh. The team batted around and used six hits, including a triple from George and doubles from Brown and Ketcham, and a Stiens sacrifice fly for the 14-2 win.

Kylie Harpst started the game, but was replaced by Haleigh Sills in the second. Sills scattered five hits and struck out three batters in the remaining six innings to earn the win and improve to 4-1 on the season.

Pitt State will take the field at noon in Kirksville, Mo. on Saturday (March 23) for a doubleheader against Truman.