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KEARNEY, Neb. -- The Pittsburg State Softball team swept an MIAA conference doubleheader of the season with a pair of wins over Nebraska-Kearney on a blustery Sunday (April 14) afternoon. The Gorillas had to come from behind in both games to win 4-3 and 5-3.
In the first game, Pitt State scored four runs off eight hits and four Loper errors. UNK scored three runs off seven hits. The Gorillas did not commit any errors. Brenna George and Tiffany Brown led the Gorillas with 2-for-3 performance. George reached in every plate appearance as she also was walked once and reached on an error. She also had an RBI and scored two runs. Kreslee Ketcham also had two hits for the Gorillas as she was 2-for-4 with an RBI in the game.
Pitt State scored first in the opening frame of game one. George led off the game with a walk. She stole second and moved to third on a throwing error. An illegal pitch brought George home for the first run of the game.
Nebraska-Kearney took and early 3-1 lead with three runs on three hits in the bottom of the first inning.
The Gorillas began to rally in the top of the second. Kayla Sears walked, but was out at second on the next play as Jordan Bradshaw was safe on a fielder’s choice. Bradshaw moved to second on an illegal pitch by the Lopers pitcher. A Nebraska-Kearney error found Riley Campbell safe at first and moved Bradshaw stole third. Bradshaw came home on a George single to center, making the score 3-2 in favor of the Lopers.
Pitt State tied the game in the top of the sixth. George reached and advanced to second on a Nebraska-Kearney error to lead off the inning. She moved to third on a Catie Cummins ground out and scored on a Ketcham ground out.
Sam Grove came up big for the Gorillas in the seventh, as she led off with a double to left center. Kylie Harpst came in to pinch run for her. Harpst moved to third and then scored on back-to-back ground outs from Sears and Devon McCreath for the 4-3 win.
Pitcher Kyndel Shelburn improved to 7-7 on the season with the complete game win. She struck out eight batters and walked three. Kearney's Taryn Trosper took the loss to move to 2-5 on the year.
Game two saw the Gorillas also ppound out eight hits, this time scoring five runs with the help of one UNK error. Four of Pitt State's runs came in the top of the seventh. Kearney scored its three runs off six hits and one PSU error.
Sam Grove and Riley Campbell were each 2-for-3 in the game. They each scored one run and Cambell added two RBI. Ketcham was again 2-for-4. Cummins had only one hit, but had two RBI on that hit.
The game was scoreless through three and a half innings before the Lopers put up one run on three hits in the bottom of the fourth. The team was threatening to score again, but the Gorilla defense turned a double play to end the inning.
The defense effort carried into the top of the fifth when Pitt State scored a run to tie the game at 1-1. Grove led off the innings with a base hit to left. She moved into scoring position on a Sears sacrifice bunt and scored on a Campbell single to center.
The Lopers used a walk, a hit batter, a sac fly and a hit to score two runs in their half of the fifth to take a 3-1 lead.
That is where the game would stay until the Gorillas had a very productive top of the seventh. With one out, Kayla Sears reached on a dropped fly ball by the Lopers. Molly Stiens camce in to pinch run for her. A Campbell double to left center scored Stiens to bring the Gorillas within one. McCreath's base hit to right scored Campbell to tie the game. With two outs, Cummins hit a game-winning two run home run to put Pitt State up 5-3.
Grove pitched the complete game in the win to improve her record to 5-3.
The Gorillas are now 21-19 on the season and 9-11 in league play. Nebraska-Kearney falls to 8-24 overall and 3-13 in the MIAA.
PItt State will now be at home for the remainder of the regular season. The Gorillas begin their 12-game home stand with a doubleheader against Missouri Southern on Wednesday, April 17 at 5 and 7 p.m. It will be ROTC Day at the Ballpark. The ROTC Color Guard will present the colors during the National Anthem and representatives will throw out the first pitch. ROTC cadets will be commissioned prior to the first game. In addition, the PSU Athletics Department will run a special edition concession stand and will have exclusive gameday gear on sale.
