Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

Game 1 Box | Game 2 Box | Season Stats

PITTSBURG, Kan. -- The Pitt State softball team (22-20, 10-12 MIAA) split a midweek doubleheader with rival Missouri Southern (22-22, 9-13 MIAA) on a chilly Tuesday evening (April 16). The Gorillas won game one, 5-1, but fell in game two, 11-8, in eight innings.

In game one, freshman pitcher Kyndel Shelburn allowed only one hit, as she earned the win. She also enetered the game in relief in the eighth inning of game two. Her record remains even at 8-8 on the season.

Pitt State had only three hits in game one, but was helped by 12 walks from the Missouri Southern pitching staff.

The Gorillas scored right away in the top of the first as Brenna George crossed the plate on a Lion fielding error.

The Lions tied the game in the top of the third, but Pitt State quickly answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Catie Cummins got the first hit of the game for the Gorillas. Tiffany Brown and Katelyn Birchfield each drew two out walks to load the bases. It was only one of four walks on the game for Brown. A Sam Grove bloop sngle scored Cummins and Brown for a 3-1 lead.

Pitt State scored its final two runs the following inning. Jordan Bradshaw was able to score on a wild pitch and George scored as Birchfield walked with the bases loaded for the 5-1 final score.

In game two, the Missouri Southern offense was strong, as it used 15 hits to score 11 runs. The Gorillas had eight runs on seven hits. Kayla Sears was the only Gorilla player with multiple hits, as she went 2-for-4 with a run scored, a hoem run and three RBI.

Pitt State again scored early in the bottom of the first as George scored on a sacrifice fly by Brown. 

The Lions tied the game in the top of the third, but again the Gorillas had an answer in the bottom of the inning as they went up 2-1 as George scored on an RBI walk to Birchfield.

A two-run home run by Kreslee Ketcham in the bottom of the fifth gave Pitt State what looked like a comfortable 4-1 lead.

That lead was quickly erased as Missouri Southern scored seven runs on six hits in the top of the sixth to take a 8-4 lead.

Sears hit a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth to cut the Lion lead to three, 8-5.

In the bottom of the seventh, Brown drew a one-out walk. Birchfield added a base hit. Both runners moved  up 60 feet on a wild pitch. Kylee Harpst walked to load the bases and put the tying run on base. Some heads up base running, allowed Brown to score from third on a wild pitch. Kayla Sear's base hit through the right side allowed two more runs to score, tying the game at 8-8. Though Pitt State had only one out and was able to get another runner on base, it was not able to push the winning run across, forcing extra innings.

Missouri Southern fought back in the eighth, scoring three runs on a bases-clearing, two-out double. The Pitt State offense went down in order in the bottom of the inning, ending the game in the 11-8 loss.

PItt State takes the field again on Saturday (April 20) against Lincoln. It is Melanoma Awareness Day and representatives will be on hand to talk about skin cancer, screening and giving free sunscreen to all fans.