PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University softball team will make its MIAA debut this weekend when the Gorillas play doubleheaders against Emporia State University and Washburn University. The Gorillas and Lady Hornets will meet at 2 p.m. (CST) Friday (Mar. 6) at Emporia, Kan., and Pitt State and WU will battle at 1 p.m. Saturday at Topeka.

Pitt State brings a 9-15 overall record into weekend play. The Gorillas have won six of their last eight games including a modest three-game winning streak. ESU is 11-7 overall and riding a three-game win streak as well, while WU is 10-8 heading into a Friday twinbill scheduled against Missouri Southern State University.

Pitt State enters weekend play batting .233 and scoring 4.2 runs per game. Senior infielder Makenzie Goswick leads the squad with a .346 batting average. She has an MIAA-leading eight doubles as well as a team-best 16 RBIs. Senior infielder Kaity Kukowski also is hitting. 282 with 18 runs scored, seven doubles, three home runs and 12 RBIs. Kukowski ranks fourth in the MIAA in runs scored and seventh in the league in home runs.

In the circle, the Gorillas sport a 5.75 ERA. Junior righthander Kaylee Burnett is 4-6 with a team-leading 4.84 ERA. She posted a pair of shutout, including a one-hitter vs. Minnesota Crookston, last week at the WU Invitational at Topeka.