BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- The Pitt State Softball team earned two quality in-region wins over Minnesota State-Mankato, 5-2, and Wayne State, 10-3, in the final day of the Eight State Classic.
The Gorillas started the day against Minnesota State. Though the Mavericks out hit the Gorillas 10-5, Pitt State put together more timely hits to earn the win.
Pitt State took an early lead on a lead off home run by Kylie Guthier in the bottom of the second.
Neither team scored again until the Gorillas put together a four-run fifth. Katy Remy drew a lead off walk to open the inning. Jenna Bolton reached on a fielder's choice that left Remy safe at second. Both runners advanced on a passed ball. With two outs, Myka Hayward stepped in to pinch hit and dropped a base hit in left center to bring home Remy. The two-out rally continued with Nicole Nease's first home run of the season, a three-run shot to left center for a 5-0 Pitt State lead.
The Mavericks used back-to-back doubles and another base hit to bring home their two runs in the top of the sixth.
Emmie Robertson pitched the complete game in the win for the Gorillas. She struck out seven and walked three.
Ten different Gorillas got hits in the game against Wayne State. Guthier led the team with a 3-for-5 performance. Nease and Lawren McKinney each added two hits.
Pitt State scored right away in the top of the first. Shelby Miller reached on an error in the first at bat of the game. Sierra Hall followed with a base hit. Nease drove a double down the left line to score Miller.
Wayne State took over the lead in the bottom half of the inning. The first three batters used two walks and a base hit to tie the game at 1-1. Bree Cornett came in to take over pitching duties from Pitt State starter Morgan Myers. Cornett offered a walk to the first batter she faced. The Wildcats added another RBI base hit to take a 2-1 lead before Cornett retired the next two batters. The third and final run for Wayne State came home on an illegal pitch.
Pitt State started its come back in the top of the fourth. Kala Holder walked. McKinney added a base hit. Bolton walked to load the bases. Remy reached on a fielder's choice that put Bolton out at second, but allowed Holder to score and put the Gorillas down by only one, 3-2.
Wayne State led off the bottom of the fourth with a double. Robertson came in to replace Cornett in the circle. She and the Pitt State defense sat down the next two batters and Holder caught the runner attempting to steal third to end the inning. Wayne State would get only one more hit in the game after that.
Guthier got the Gorilla bats started in the top of the fifth with a base hit to center. Kristen Van Hoosen came in to pinch run for her. Holder drew her second walk of the game. McKinney drove a base hit to left, scoring Van Hoosen. The throw allowed both runners to advance into scoring position for Bolton, who earned two RBI with a base hit. Remy hit a double and was able to move to third as Bolton was thrown out at the plate. Tiara Ewy hit Remy home with a double to center and put the Gorillas up 6-3.
Nease and Guthier lead off the sixth with back-to-back base hits. Both runners advanced on a Kylie DeClue fly ball, allowing Nease to score on a passed ball for a four-run lead, 7-3.
The final three Pitt State runs came in the top of the seventh. Alicia Lowery pinch hit and dropped a base hit in left field. Miller added a double. Sierra Hall hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Lowery, then a wild pitch allowed Miller to score. Kaity Kukowski drew a walk. Guthier added her third hit of the game. Holder earned an RBI with a base hit to center for the final 10-3 score.
Robertson earned the win to improve her record to 7-3 on the season. She gave up only one hit and struck out four in four innings of work. Cornett had five strikeouts in her three innings, while giving up three hits and two walks.
The Gorillas will finally play at home next week as the team hosts Upper Iowa in doubleheaders beginning at 2 p.m. on Saturday (Feb. 25) and 11 a.m. on Sunday (Feb. 26). Admission to PSU Softball games is free.
