PITTSBURG -- The Pitt State softball team (32-12, 11-5 MIAA) played two close games, but came up short in both, losing to Northwest Missouri (21-11, 10-2 MIAA), 2-1 and 3-1, on Friday (April 7) evening at the PSU Softball Complex.

Lawren McKinney hit a two-out solo home run in the bottom of the second to give the Gorillas an early 1-0 lead.

The score held steady until the top of the sixth when the Bearcats used three hits and an error to plate two runs and take a 2-1 lead.

That was where the score stayed. The Bearcats didn't get another hit, while McKinney hit a double for the Gorillas in the bottom of the seventh.

Emmie Robertson took the loss for Pitt State in the circle to move to 22-5 on the season. She struck out 10 batters, walked two and hit one, while giving up two runs on four hits and an error. Taylor Blackford earned the win, giving up only one run on two hits and an error. She is 10-2 on the year.

The Gorillas scored first again in the second game. McKinney sparked the offense with a lead off walk. Kris Van Hoosen reached on an error on an attempted sacrifice bunt. Tiara Ewy dropped a base hit in center to load the bases. With one out, Kaity Kukowski hit a sac fly to center to score Van Hoosen to put the Gorillas up 1-0.

In the top of the fourth, Chantel Adams was hit by a Bree Cornett pitch. The next batter, Abigail Gilson, hit a home run out in centerfield for a 2-1 Bearcat advantage.

Kaitlyn Weis came in to pitch for the Bearcats in the bottom of the fifth, while Robertson returned for the Gorillas in the top of the sixth.

Weis helped her own cause in the top of the sixth with a lead-off home run for a 3-1 lead.

Holly Posegate earned the win for the Bearcats with Weis picking up her second save of the season. Bree Cornett fell to 7-4 with the loss.

The Gorillas take the field again tomorrow (April 8) at 2 and 4 p.m. against Missouri Western at the PSU Softball Complex.