CLAREMORE, Okla. -- The Gorilla Softball team continued its 24-game road show on Tuesday (March 17) as it split a doubleheader at Rogers State. The Gorillas won game one 1-0, but fell in game two 9-6.
Game one stayed scoreless until the top of the seventh. With one out, Alex Perez drove a double down the left line. Devon McCreath followed with an RBI base hit up the middle to give the Gorillas the 1-0 lead.
Rogers State got three runners on in the bottom half of the seventh, but the Gorilla defense was solid to keep the win.
Emmie Robertson held the Hillcats hitless through three innings and scattered five hits through the last four innings. She struck out five and walked two. She is now 8-2 on the season.
The Gorillas but up eight hits in the game, three by McKenzie Rynard and one each from Aston Pratt, Cheslyn Mitchell, Nicole Nease, Perez and McCreath.
In game two, Pitt State got ahead early, but a big bottom of the sixth by Rogers State led to the 9-6 loss.
The Gorillas scored six runs on eight hits and two Hillcat errors, while Rogers State score nine runs on 10 hits and two Pitt State errors.
PSU scored first in the top of the first. Pratt led off the game with a base hit to right and stole second. Lawren McKinney followed with an RBI base hit for a 1-0 run.
Rogers State immediately answered with two runs on a walk, a hit batter and an error in the bottom of the first for a 2-1 lead.
Two scoreless innings went by before Kylie Guthier hit a lead off home run to right center to knot the game at 2-all.
The Gorillas took a 6-2 lead in the top of the fifth. Pratt drew a walk to lead off the inning. Back-to-back Hillcat errors loaded the bases. Guthier stepped up to the plate and hit her second grand slam in four days for the four run Pitt State lead.
Six hits, a PSU error and two walks led to seven runs in the bottom of the sixth for Rogers State.
The Gorillas got two runners on in the top of the seventh, but did not push a run across, ending in the 9-6 loss.
Zoe Price started for the Gorillas in the circle. Only one of the nine runs she gave up was earned. She struck out five batters and walked four. She is now 5-2 on the season. Lynsey Conner finished the game, throwing the last out of the sixth inning.
Pitt State now travels to St. Joseph, Mo. for the Apple Market Classic, a crossover tournament with teams from the MIAA and NSIC. The Gorillas will play six games in the tournament. Friday (March 20) will be a challenge for the Gorillas as they will face No. 25 Augustana and 10 a.m., following by a matchup with No. 20 Emporia State at 2 p.m. Both of Friday's games will take place at Heritage Park. On Saturday, Pitt State takes on Minnesota State-Mankato at noon at Heritage Park and Winona State at the Griffon Softball Field at 4 p.m. Sunday will bring on Northern State at 9 a.m. and Upper Iowa at 3 p.m.
