ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Pitt State softball team split games in the final day of the Apple Market Classic to finish the tournament 5-1. The Gorillas lost to Sioux Falls, 6-4, in the first game of the day on Sunday (March 20), before earning a 6-2 win over Northern State in the final game of the day.
Against Northern State the Gorilla offense was effecient, scoring six runs on eight hits and two Wolves errors. Northern State scored two runs on nine hits and two Pitt State errors. Sierra Hall, Lawren McKinney and Jordan Bradshaw each had two hits in the game. Hall led the team with two runs scored. Katy Remy led the team with two RBI.
Senior Zoe Price earned her first win in the circle in a year. She went the complete game, walked one and struck out one. Neither of the two runs she gave up were earned.
Northern State scored first in the top of the first on three hits and an error.
Pitt State did not answer until the top of the third. Hall reached on an error to lead off the inning, then moved to third on a Nease base hit to left center. A squeeze by Alex Perez left everyone safe and allowed Hall to score from third for the 1-1 tie.
The following inning, Pitt State put up five runs to take a 6-1 lead. McKinney led off the inning with a double. Catie Cummins walked and Jordan Bradshaw dropped a bunt single to load the bases. Kylie Guthier pinch hit for Ashton Pratt and drew a walk to bring home McKinney to give Pitt State the lead. Pratt reentered to run for Guthier. With the bases still loaded, Hall reached on an error that allowed Cummins to score. Remy knocked a two-RBI double to left center to score Bradshaw and Pratt. Hall scored the final run of the inning on a ground out to short by Nease.
Northern State added its second run in the bottom of the fifth on two hits, a walk and a passed ball to make the final score 6-2.
Pitt State built up a 3-0 lead against Sioux Falls, but USF used a big fifth inning to steal the lead.
The Gorillas scored first in the bottom of the first. Pratt led off the game with a base hit, stole second and moved to third on a Hall fly out to right. She scored on a Sioux Falls illegal pitch.
Two solo home runs by Jenna Bolton and Bradshaw gave the Gorillas the 3-0 lead after the fourth.
Two walks, a home run, a double and a mishandled bunt brought home five runs for Sioux Falls in the top of the fifth.
Pitt State brought the game within one runin the bottom of the same inning/ Remy led off the inning with a double and moved to third on a Nease fly out, then scored on a Sioux Falls error for a 5-4 score.
Sioux Falls added another run in the top of the seventh on two hits and a walk.
The Gorillas got the first two runners on in the bottom of the seventh, but the next three batters got out to end the game in the loss.
Emmie Robertson took the loss in the circle. She gave up six runs on seven hits and four walks. Only three of the runs were earned. She struck out 12 batters.
Pitt State will return for six home games next week. The Gorillas will play a mid-week non-conference doubleheader against Arkansas Tech on Wednesday at 3 p.m. Friday will be the Gorillas' first-ever Bark at the Park. Fans are encouraged to bring their dogs to watch the Gorillas take on Emporia State at 3 p.m. The SEK Humane Society will be there with several dogs available for adoption. Pitt State takes on Washburn at 2 p.m. on Saturday (March 26). At 1:30 p.m. PSU Athletics will host an Easter Egg Hunt between the baseball and softball stadiums.
