PITTSBURG -- The Pitt State softball team hit six home runs on the way to 12-3 and 8-0 run-rule wins over Missouri Western on Saturday (April 7) at the PSU Softball Complex. 

Pitt State scored 11 of its 12 runs on the long ball in game one. The first came on a Kris Van Hoosen two run home run over the scoreboard in left field in the bottom of the second.

The Gorillas took a 3-0 lead in the third. Kaity Kukowski drew a leadoff walk. She advanced all the way to third on an error on an attempted sacrifice by Shelby Miller. Nease used a sacrifice fly to bring home Kukowski.

Missouri Western scored three runs on four hits and a walk, as PSU made two pitching changes to tie the game 3-3 in the fourth.

The Gorillas' big inning came in the fifth. Kala Holder gave her team the lead back with a two-run home run. Nease hit another home run in the very next at bat. With two outs, Jenna Bolton hit the third home run of the inning, a three-run shot to put the Gorillas up 9-3.

The final three runs came on a Nease walk-off, three-run homer in the sixth for the 12-3 lead. Nease finished the game 2-for-3 with two home runs and five RBI.

PSU's offense continued to drive them in game two. The first run came in the second as a Bolton base hit to right brought home Van Hoosen.

The team used a seven-run fourth to go up 8-0. Tiara Ewy got the team started with a one-out solo home run. Bolton walked and Kukowski reached on an error. Shelby Miller reached on a fielder's choice as Bolton was put out at third. Holder hit a two-run double to center to score Kukowski and Miller. Nease scored Holder with her own base hit to center. Myka Hayward drew a walk before Lawren McKinney brought Nease home with a base hit to left. A Van Hoosen walk loaded the bases. Tiara Ewy brought the  last two runs home with her base hit, but was thrown out at second to end the inning.

Emmie Robertson earned the win in both games to improve to 24-5 on the season.

Pitt State will not have any midweek games next week. The team will travel east over the weekend for a doubleheader at Lindenwood at 2 p.m. on Friday (April 14) and at Lincoln at 1 p.m. on Saturday (April 15).