KEARNEY, Neb. -- The Pitt State softball team (10-4, 4-0 MIAA) scored 27 runs on the way to a doubleheader sweep of Nebraska-Kearney on Friday (March 13). The Gorillas won 8-2 and 19-3.
In game two, Pitt State scored its 19 runs on 17 hits and five Nebraska-Kearney errors. Only seven of the 17 hits were for extra bases. Seven different Gorillas had hits in the game and nine scored runs. 15 different players found their way into the lineup. Ashton Pratt and Kylie Guthier each had four hits for Pitt State. Pratt was a perfect 4-for-4 with a walk, three runs scored and one RBI. Guthier was 4-for-5 with a home run, a double, three runs scored and six RBI. Lawren McKinney and Devon McCreath were each 2-for-2 with two runs scored. McKinney also had an RBI and a walk. McCreath added a walk, two doubles and four RBI. Nicole Nease went 3-for-4 with two runs, two RBI, a home run and a walk.
The first three Gorilla batters of the game loaded the bases with two base hits and a walk. Guthier added an RBI base hit to score Pratt for the first run of the game. McKenzie Rynard added a double to score Cheslyn Mitchell and McKinney. McCreath and Jordan Bradshaw hit back-to-back doubles to bring home three more runs. The 6-0 lead forced a UNK pitching change, but Pratt, the first batter she faced, drew a walk. McKinney added her second hit of the inning to score Bradshaw for the seventh and final run of the inning.
A bases loaded walk scored the Lopers' run in the bottom of the first.
The top of the second saw the Gorillas score nine runs on five hits and three UNK errors. Nease led off the inning with a solo home run. With one out and runners on second and third, McCreath hit her second double of the game and moved to third on the throw home as Rynard and Guthier scored. The Lopers made their second pitching change of the game. Pratt added her third hit of the day with two outs to score McCreath. The Gorillas again loaded the bases and Nease got her second hit of the inning to score Pratt, while McKinney came home on a Loper error. Guthier hit Pitt State's second home run of the game, a three run bomb to right field for a 16-1 lead. The third pitching change of the inning happened and got Nebraska-Kearney out of the inning.
Pitt State pitcher Zoe Price sat the Lopers down in order in the bottom of the second.
Neither team scored in the third. Darion Jaso came into the game to start the fourth and reached on an error. She scored on a Guthier RBI double for a 17-1 lead.
UNK added two runs on three hits in the bottom of the fourthto make the score 17-3.
The Gorillas got those two runs back in the top of the fifth. With one out, Pratt laid down a bunt single. Mitchell walked and Nease added a base hit to load the bases. Pratt scored on a Guthier base hit and Mitchell came home on a Loper error on the play for the final 19-3 score.
Price pitched four of the five innings in the win. She gave up three runs on five hits, walking three and striking out four. She is now 4-1 on the season. Lynsey Conner pitched the final inning. She walked two, but did not give up a hit.
Game one was closer, but the Gorillas still scored eight runs on seven hits and three Nebraska-Kearney errors. UNK also had seven hits, but were only able to plate two runs. The Gorilla defense had one error.
Nease and Alex Perez were each 2-for-4 with two runs to lead Pitt State. Perez had a triple and an RBI, while Nease added a double. Mitchell, McCreath and Bradshaw each had one hit, but all were home runs. McCreath tallied three RBI, while Mitchell had two.
The Lopers were on the board first as they plated one run on two hits in the bottom of the second.
Pitt State waited to answer until the top of the fourth. Nease led off with her double down the left field line. Perez hit her in with her triple, then scored as Bradshaw reached on a UNK error.
The remaining six Gorilla runs scored in the top of the fifth. McKinney reached on a error to start the inning. Mitchell hit her home run for a 4-1 lead. Rynard walked. With one out, Nease reached on a fielder's choice, but Rynard was out at second for the second out of the inning. Perez added a base hit before McCreath and Bradshaw stepped up and hit back-to-back home runs to put Pitt State up 8-1.
A hit batter, a walk and a base hit score the second Loper run in the bottom of the seventh for the final 8-2 score.
Emmie Robertson pitched the complete game for the Gorillas. She walked three and struck out five.
The Gorillas continue MIAA play on Saturday (March 14) in Hays, Kan. The Gorillas and Tigers will face off at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. The softball field is just outside the Gross Memorial Coliseum, so any Gorilla fans in Hays for the basketball regional are encoraged to come to the games prior to the basketball game.
