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Season Stats (html version)
MONTICELLO, Ark. -- The Pittsburg State softball team won its first run-rul game of the season, 10-1 in six innings, over Arkansas-Monticello, before falling 7-1 in the final game of the four game series.
IN game one, PItt State scored its 10 runs off 14 hits and two Cotton Blossom errors and left only six runners on base. Arkansas-Monticello scored one run on four hits and left eight runners on.
Pitt State got off to a strong start in game one, putting up four runs in the top of the second, with the bottom of the lineup setting the table for the scores. Kreslee Ketcham, Katelyn Birchfield, Kayla Sears and Riley Campbell started the inning with four consecutive base hits. On Birchfield's hit, an error allowed her to advance all the way to third and scored Ketcham. Sears' hit then brought home Birchfield for a 2-0 lead. With two outs, Jordan Bradshaw knocked a two-RBI base hit up the middle to score Sears and Campbell.
Tiffany Brown led off the top of the third with a base hit. She moved to second on Birchfield's second hit of the day and ascored on Sears second hit, putting the Gorillas up 5-0.
The Blossoms scored their one run in the bottom of the fourth, The leadoff batter was hit by a pitch, moved to third on two consecutive base hits and then scored on a sacrifice hit.
Neither team scored in the fifth inning, but the Gorillas made up for it in the top of the sixth. Sears, who finished the game 3-for-3, got her third base hit of the day. Campbell added another hit and a Brenna George hit up the middle loaded the bases. Bradshaw drew a walk to score Catie Cummins, who was pinch running for Sears. Cheslyn Mitchell earned an RBI with a base hit to center to score Campbell. A Brown sac fly brought home George, then Bradshaw scored on a wild pitch to give PItt State the eight-run lead. The final run came in as Mitchell scored on an outfield error by UAM.
Kyndel Shelburn earned her first win of the season as she pitched the complete game. She gave up only four hits and four walks and struck out 11 Weevil batters. Randa Perry took the loss for UAM as she gave up all 10 runs, nine of which were earned. She walked one and struck out five.
Eight Pitt State batters had hits in the game, four with multiple hits, George, Birchfield, Sears and Campbell. There were no extra base hits by either team.
In game two, the Gorilla bats went cold. The team only had three hits. UAM scored seven runs on eight hits and was also helped by two Pitt State errors that results in four unearned runs.
UAM scored two runs on two hits and an error in the bottom of the third.
Pitt State answered with its lone run of the game in the top of the fifth to cut the Arkansas-Monticell lead to 2-1 as Katelyn Birchfield drove a leadoff home run to left field.
The Blossoms added five runs on five hits and an error in the bottom of the sixth.
Pitt State had a leadoff hit from Brown in the top of the seventh, but got nothing else going, ending the game with the 7-1 loss.
Kylie Harpst took the loss to move her record even at 1-1. She pitched 5.1 innings in tha game, giving up seven hits and all seven runs, only three of which were earned. Jessica Barnes pitched the final 0.2 innings, facing four batters and giving up a hit and a walk in her first appearance of the season. Katie Slaughter earned the win for UAM and is now 7-2 on the season.
Pitt State is 4-4 on the year. They will stick close to home next weekend as they travel to Joplin for the MSSU Border Battle. The team will play Upper Iowa and Missouri Western on Saturday and Central Missouri and Missouri Southern on Sunday. All games against MIAA foes are non-conference games.
