PITTSBURG- The Pittsburg State University softball team swept the Griffons of Missouri Western Friday (Apr.21) in a double header at the PSU Softball Field at the Gene Bicknell Complex.

The Gorillas relied on the speed of Heather Arnett in game one as she score two of the four Gorilla runs to win 4-2. In game two, the Gorillas scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh to complete the two game sweep with a 4-3 win. 

Game One 

 The Gorillas relied on the arm of Hannah Harrison and the speed of Arnett in game one winning 4-2. The Gorillas got on the board early as Arnett stole home as part of a double steal with Paxtyn Hayes stealing second to give the Gorillas a 1-0 lead. Two innings later Arnett would strike again on the base paths as she stole home on a throw back to the pitcher to extend the Gorilla lead to 2-0. In the top of the fourth, Kalee Higdon would hit a home run over the center field fence to cut the Gorilla lead to 2-1. In the bottom of the fourth, the Gorillas would score two runs with a sacrifice fly from Kadyn Trochim to extend the lead to 3-1. On the next at-bat, Gracie Sullivan would hit an rbi single to make the score 4-1. In the top of the fifth, the Griffons would score the final run of the game as Sydni Hawkins would hit a solo home run over the right field fence to cut the lead to 4-2. With the bases loaded in the top of the sixth, Hayes would make a game saving stop at first base to keep the Griffons from cutting into the Gorilla lead. Hannah Harrison would get the win in the circle striking out six Griffon hitters and going seven innings. 

Game Two 

The Gorillas come back from down 3-0 to win in the bottom of the seventh in game two of the double header. The Gorillas and Griffons would be scoreless until the top of the fifth, when Hawkins would hit an rbi double on a blooper to center field to give the Griffons a 1-0 lead. On the next at-bat, Liz Vaupel would hit a two-run single to extend the Griffon lead to 3-0. The Gorillas would cut the Griffon lead to 3-1 on a wild pitch that scored Arnett from second base. In the bottom of the seventh, the Gorillas would rally starting with an rbi single from Kori Stonestreet to make the score 3-2. Two batters later, Arnett would hit a single through the left side of the infield to score Kianna Pellegrino to tie the game at 3-3. On the next at-bat, Hayes would reach on an infield single to score  Kyndall Davis to give the Gorillas a 4-3 win and complete the two game sweep. Bree Sexton would go 2.1 innings in relief to get the win for the Gorillas. Arnett would go 4-7 on the afternoon with an rbi, scoring three runs and stealing three bases on the afternoon. 

The Gorillas (25-17, 10-10 MIAA) will be back in action Saturday (Apr.22) as they will host the Bearcats of Northwest Missouri State University. The double header will start at 2:00 p.m. Gorillas will honor their class of 2023 in between game one and two at the PSU Softball field at the Gene Bicknell Complex