OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The Pittsburg State softball team has advanced to the MIAA Tournament Championship game. The Gorillas defeated Central Missouri, 4-2 to advance to Saturday's (May 2) game at noon. The Gorillas will take on the winner of Central Missouri and Missouri Western, which began at 5 p.m.

This will be Pittsburg State's fourth trip to the MIAA Championship game. The team also made it in 1992, 1994 and 1995, but entered each of those Championship games with one loss.

The Gorillas broke a 2-2 tie with two runs in the top of the fifth. With one out, Mitchell continued a strong day with a double to the left field fence. Devon McCreath came in to pinch run for her. Nease drew a walk. Kylie Guthier added another double to the fence to bring home McCreath for the go ahead run. Nease moved to third on the play and stood just 60 feet from a two-run lead with McKenzie Rynard up to bat. Rynard hit the ball to the fence it centerfield, but it was caught by the Jennies centerfielder. Nease waited until she was sure the ball was caught then took off for home, scoring easily for the two-run cushion.

Central Missouri got runners on in the bottom of each the sixth and seventh innings, but the Gorilla defense was able to keep them away from home plate and ended the game on a double play.

Central Missouri found the scoreboard first with a two-run home run by Lauren Mabe in the bottom of the first.

Jordan Bradshaw started the top of the third with a base hit. With two outs, Cheslyn Mitchell took the ball deep in left center for her seventh home run of the season to tie the game at 2-2.

The Jennies threatened in their half of the third. Schoonover led off the inning with a base hit. She stole second and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. A well placed squeeze attempted to bring her home, but pitcher Emmie Robertson fielded the bunt and shoveled it to Nease at the plate for the second out of the inning. The Gorilla defense got the out on the lead runner in the next at bat to end the Central Missouri threat.

The Pitt State outfielders had a spectacular fifth inning. Mitchell made the first out of the inning with a diving catch in short left field. Alex Perez got the second out on a routine fly ball to right. Ashton Pratt turned on her wheels to keep a ball from dropping in short left center to end the inning.

Emmie Robertson pitched the complete game for her 26^th win of the season, tying the school record for wins in a season by a pitcher. She shares the record with Renee Dunlap who won 26 games in 1994. She allowed four hits and struck out five, while walking one.