ST. JOSEPH, Mo. --  The Pittsburg State softball team lost two games in the Missouri Western Apple Market Classic on Saturday (March 21). The Gorillas, now 14-8 on the season, fell to Minnesota State-Mankato, 1-0, and to No. 14 Winona State, 7-3.

Pitt State, typically a strong offensive team, managed only eight hits on the day.

The Gorillas could not get their bats going in game one against Minnesota State-Mankato. Pitt State managed just two hits, one from Kylie Guthier and a bunt single by Ashton Pratt.

The Mavericks had only five hits in the game, but capitalized on a Gorilla error in the top of the seventh to score the game's only run. After two hits, a sacrifice bunt and a stolen base, the Mavericks had runners at second and third with one out. A Gorilla fielding error allowed the game-winning run to score.

Zoe Price pitched seven quality innings in the loss. The Mavericks one run was not earned. Price struck out five batters, did not walk any and hit two. She is now 6-3 on the season.

It was much the same story for the Gorilla offense against No. 14 Winona State until the top of the seventh inning. Four of Pitt State's six hits in the game came in that inning.

Winona State scored first with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the third.

The fourth inning saw three hits and one error plate two more runs for the Warriors.

The Gorillas were able to hold Winona State at bay in the fifth inning, but the sixth inning brought more adversity, as five hits and a walk led to four more runs and a 7-0 Warrior lead. Price came in to replace Pitt State starter Roberston with one out in the inning and finished the inning.

Cheslyn Mitchell got the Gorillas going in the top of the seventh with a base hit to right. Nicole Nease was hit by a pitch. Guthier added a base hit through the left side to load the bases. Devon McCreath knocked a base hit up the middle to score Mitchell for the first Gorilla run of the day. Catie Cummins earned an RBI as she reached on a fielder's choice and Nease came home to score. Jordan Bradshaw added a two-out RBI with a base hit up the middle to make the score 7-3.

Robertson's record moves to 8-4 on the year. Five of the seven runs on the game were earned. She struck out seven batters and walked one.

The Gorillas finish out the Apple Market Classic on Sunday (March 22) with a 9 a.m. game against Northern State and a 3 p.m. meeting with Upper Iowa.