HASTINGS, Neb. -- The Pitt State softball team faced off against Nebraska-Kearney in Hastings on Sunday (April 2) afternoon due to poor field conditions in Kearney. The Gorillas came away from the match up with a doubleheader sweep, winning game one, 8-1, and game two, 8-3.
The Gorillas outhit the Lopers 15-5 in game one. Pitt State scored eight runs on 15 hits and an error, while the Lopers managed only one run on five hits.
Jenna Bolton led the Gorillas with a 3-for-4 day at the plate. She also scored two runs. Kaity Kukowski reached in every at bat. She was 2-for-2 with three walks, two runs and five RBI. She hit two home runs. Lawren McKinney and Shelby Miller were each 2-for-5. McKinney added a home run, a runs scored and two RBI. Ten different Gorillas had hits in the game, including pinch hitters Alicia Lowrey and Kylie DeClue.
The Gorillas scored three runs in the third, one in the fourth and two each in the fifth and seventh innings. The Lopers scored their only run in the bottom of the sixth on a solo home run.
Emmie Robertson pitched six innings to earn the win. She gave up five hits and the run. She struck out 10 batters and did not give up a walk. Bree Cornett threw the final inning and sat down the batters in order.
Game two saw an efficient Pitt State offense plate eight runs on nine hits and four Nebraska-Kearney errors. The Lopers scored three runs, all on solo home runs. They had six hits in the game and the Gorilla defense was again flawless.
Eight of the nine Pitt State batters had hits, with Myka Hayward putting up two hits. Kukowski led the team with three runs scored. Hayward had two RBI
The Gorillas brought home two runs in each the first and third innings. The Lopers answered with a solo home run in the bottom half of each of those same innings for a 4-2 Pitt State lead after three complete.
PSU added three runs in the fourth and one in the fifth for an 8-2 score. The final run of the game with the third solo home run for the Lopers in the bottom of the seventh.
Bree Cornett pitched the complete game for the Gorillas. She struck out seven and walked three. She now has a 7-3 record on the season.
The Gorillas are now 30-10 on the season, the program's fourth 30-win season in a row.0
Pitt State will have another week with six games, this time all six are at home. The team opens the week with a doubleheader against Central Missouri on Tuesday at 3 p.m., games that had been rescheduled from mid-March. The weekend brings Northwest Missouri to Pittsburg on Friday (April 7) at 4 p.m. and Missouri Western on Saturday at 2 p.m.
