Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

Game 1 Box | Game 2 Box | Season Stats

PITTSBURG, Kan. -- The Pittsburg State Softball team improved its conference record to 12-12 with a doubleheader sweep  over Lincoln (14-19-1, 6-14 MIAA). The Gorillas' overall record is 24-20. The team won game one 4-3 in eight innings and game two, 6-0.

In game one, the Gorillas scored their four runs on six hits and two errors. The Blue Tigers scored their three runs on five hits and one PSU errors.

Kreslee Ketcham led the Gorillas with a 2-for-4 performance at the plate. Tiffany Brown was 1-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored.

Lincoln scored first in the top of the second on a two-run home run by pitcher Clair Lorenz.

Pitt State answered in the bottom of the third to take a 3-2 lead. Riley Campbell led off the inning with a home run. With one out, Catie Cummins added a double. A two-out, two-run homer over center by Brown gave the Gorillas the lead.

The Blue Tigers tied the game in the top of the fifth on two hits and a walk.

Neither team scored in the sixth of the seventh, though Lincoln had runners in both innings, and the Gorillas were able to push a runner to third in the sixth.

Lincoln loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the eighth, but PSU pitcher Kyndel Shelburn forced a pop up to center for the final out.

Breanna McCracken came in as a pinch hitter to lead off the eighth inning for Pitt State. Brenna George reentered the game to run for McCracken. She moved to second on a Cummins sacrifice bunt. Ketcham knocked the ball to right field. It looked as if it was going to be caught, but fell out of the right fielder's glove. allowing George to score from second for the win.

Shelburn improved to 9-8 on the season with the win in the circle. She struck out 12 batters and allowed eight walks.

The Pitt State bats heated up in game two. The Gorillas scored their six runs on 12 hits. The top of the Gorilla lineup was especially productive, with George, Cummins, Ketcham and Brown each getting two hits. Brown also scored two runs. Katelyn Birchfield had only one hit, but got three RBI on that hit

The Blue Tigers also scattered nine hits, all base hits, but were not able to plate a run.

The Gorillas scored first in the second. Brown led off the inning with a double to center. With two outs, Kayla Sears knocked a base hit up the middle to scored Brown for the 1-0 lead.

In the third, George beat out an infield base hit with one out. She moved to second on a Cummins ground out and to this on a wild pitch. A Ketcham base hit to center scored George.

The remaining four Gorilla runs were all scored in the fifth inning. Cummins, Ketcham and Brown started the inning with three consecutive base hits. Brown earned an RBI on hers. After a pitching change, Birchfield blasted her three-run home run for the final 6-0 score.

Sam Grove pitched the complete game to improve to 6-3 on the season. 

The Gorillas will play doubleheaders on four days next week to close out the regular season. The week begins on Tuesday, April 23 at 2 p.m. against Arkansas Tech. It will be ROTC Day. Members of the PSU ROTC will present the colors during the National Anthem. Immediately prior to the first pitch there will be a cadet swearing in.