Eight State Classic Tournament Page

PITTSBURG, Kan. -- The Pittsburg State softball team will open its 2014 season this weekend at the Eight State Classic in Bentonville, Ark. The Gorillas will play two games a day on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (Feb. 14-16).

The Gorillas open the tournament at 9:30 a.m. on Valentine's Day against Upper Iowa, then will take on Minnesota State at 1:30 p.m. Both games will be on field one at Bentonville Memorial Park. Saturday, the Gorillas take on Minnesota-Duluth at 9:30 a.m. on Memorial Park Field 6 and Harding at 1:30 p.m. on Field 7. Sunday the Gorillas play back-to-back games at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Field 7 against Rockhurst and William Jewell. 

Upper Iowa has a 1-1 record on the season after splitting a doubleheader with Grand View University last weekend. Harding has a 2-1 record after earning wins over Northeastern State and Tarleton State and a loss to Emporia State last weekend at the Tarleton State Tournament. This will be the first weekend of play for the remainder of the Gorillas opponents.

The Eigth State Classic is hosted by Arkansas-Monticello at seven fields in Bentonville, the Bentonville High School Field and six fields at Bentonville Memorial Park. The tournament features 29 teams playing 28 games a day for three days. A complete schedule of the tournament and list of teams playing can be found here.

Pitt State is looking for continued improvement in its third season under head coach Elizabeth Economon. The team went 28-22 overall in 2013, with a 16-12 record in conference play. The team returns 15 players from the 2013 squad, including All-MIAA players, Tiffany Brown, Jordan Bradshaw, Brenna George and Cheslyn Mitchell. Brown has also been a two-time NFCA All-Region selection.