PITTSBURG, Kan. -- The Pittsburg State softball team (30-16, 15-7 MIAA) is prepping for its final regular season games this weekend, though the schedule has been altered due to poor weather forecasted, particularly on Friday afternoon.
The Gorillas will now take on Northeastern State (19-28, 9-13 MIAA) at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturday (April 24). This will be the program's annual Melanoma Awareness Game. The first 50 fans at the game will get free Pitt State sunglasses. There will also be special edition Melanoma Awareness T-shirts on sale. Fans are encouraged to wear black to the game, along with hats and sunglasses, all ways to protect your skin from the sun.
Sunday Pitt State will take on Central Oklahoma (37-14, 16-6 MIAA) at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Sunday. It will be Senior Day and the team's four seniors, Avery Beard, Devon McCreath, Cheslyn Mitchell and McKenie Rynard will be honored between games of the doubleheader.
Both Central Oklahoma and the Gorillas have clenched a spot in the MIAA Tournament. The Bronchos are tied for second in the conference, while the Gorillas are fourth. Northeastern State is 10th in the standings.
Northeastern State had lost five straight games before earning a doubleheader sweep over Emporia State on Monday. The RiverHawks have a .307 team batting average and a 5.52 team ERA. Six players are hitting .300 or better. Kayce Wolldridge has the buld of the load in the circle for her team with an 11-11 record and a 4.21 ERA in 139.2 innings pitched.
The Bronchos have won five of their last seven games, including two wins over Emporia State and a five inning win over league leader, Central Missouri. The team hits .345 and has a 3.71 ERA, while holding opponents to a .277 batting average. Eight regular players are hitting .300 or better on the season, including Kaylee Brunson, leading the team with a .413 average.
The Gorillas had lost five straight games before beating Rogers State 13-4 and 15-0, both in five innings, on Tuesday evening. The team has a .317 batting average. Seven regulars in the Gorilla lineup are hitting .300 or better overall, led by Cheslyn Mitchell with a .402 average. Nicole Nease leads the team with 43 runs scored, 46 RBI and 14 home runs. She is second in total hits with 51, just one under leader Ashton Pratt with 52. Kylie Guthier barely trails Nease with 45 RBI and is also second in home runs with 10. Nease and Mitchell share the lead in doubles with 11. Pratt leads the team in walks with 20 and stolen bases with 17.
The Pitt State pitchers have a 2.91 ERA and are holding them to a .254 batting average. Emmie Robertson leads the staff with a 1.96 ERA and a .204 opponent batting average. She has a 20-8 record on the season. She has struck out 185 batters in 175.1 innings.
