ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- The Pittsburg State softball team moved to 20-8 on the season with a 1-0 loss to Mary and a 7-2 victory over Upper Iowa in ts second day at the Hy-Vee Invitational.

Pitt State out-hit the Marauders in game one, 8-3, but couldn't get the key hits they needed to push a run across, resulting the the 1-0 loss.

Mary scored the only run of the game on a lead-off home run in the bottom of the sixth.

Bree Cornett took the loss for the Gorillas, pitching five innings and the first two batters of the sixth before being relieved by Emmie Robertson. Cornett struck out three batters and walked one. Robertson struck out two, walked one and hit one.

Seven different players earned hits for the Gorillas. Van Hoosen led the team with a 2-for-3 plate performance. Kala Holder was 1-for-2 with a walk.

Pitt State was much more efficient at the plate in the game against Upper Iowa. The Gorillas plated seven runs on 14 hits, while holding the Peacocks to two runs on 10 hits.

Kylie DeClue lead the team with a 2-for-3 day at the plate. She scored two runs and earned one RBI. Kukowski, Miller, Myka Hayward and Van Hoosen each went 2-for-4. 

Upper Iowa scored first with one run on two hits and a wild pitch in the top of the fist.

Pitt State tied the game in the bottom of the inning. Kaity Kukowski started the Gorilla offense with a base hit. Shelby Miller added another base hit. Both moved into scoring position and Kukowski was able to score on a wild pitch for the 1-1 score. 

The Gorillas took the lead in their half of the second on a Kylie DeClue home run, her first of the season. 

Two Peacocks hits resulted in a run for a 2-2 tie in the top of the third. 

It took until the bottom of the fourth for Pitt State to take control of the game again. The inning started with back-to-back base hits by Van Hoosen and DeClue. Jenna Bolton walked to load the bases. After a pitching change, Kukowski reached on a fielder's choice that put Bolton out at second, but allowed Van Hoosen to score from third. A Miller ground out allowed DeClue to score to put Pitt State up 4-2.

The lead was extended to 6-2 in the fifth. Katy Remy started the offense with a one-out double. She scored on a Van Hoosen base hit. Van Hoosen moved to second on a wild pitch and came home on a Bolton two-out base hit. 

The final Gorilla run scored in the sixth. With one out, Myka Hayward hit a base hit. Lawren McKinney added a double. A Remy sac fly brought home Hayward for the 7-2 win. 

Brittany Beaudet pitched 6.1 innings to earn the win. Robertson pitched the final two outs of the game.  

The Gorillas will finish the Hy-Vee Invitational on Sunday (March 19). The team will take on Minnesota State-Mankato at 9 a.m. and Augustana at 3 p.m.