PITTSBURG – The 18^th ranked Pittsburg State University softball team will play six games this week beginning with a road doubleheader Tuesday (Mar. 7) at Russellville, Ark., against Arkansas Tech University.
 
Pitt State and ATU will face off at Noon at Chartwells Women's Sports Complex. The Gorillas then will return home to open MIAA play against the University of Central Missouri Friday (Mar. 8) and Lincoln University Saturday (Mar. 9). Both home twinbills have 1 p.m. (CST) start times slated.
 
A Peek At The Troop
Pittsburg State is off to its best start through 20 games since 1995, heading into Tuesday's doubleheader with an 18-2 overall record. Sophomore utility player Heather Arnett leads the Gorillas' charges offensively, hitting .595 with 31 runs scored, five triples and 21 stolen bases – all MIAA-leading figures. Junior outfielder Courtney Storey (.429), graduate infielder Hannah Burnett (.417), senior infielder Maddie Fernandez (.415) and sophomore outfielder Alleyna Rushing (.345) round out the qualified hitters batting above .300. Fernandez leads the team with six home runs and 23 RBI to go with a .902 slugging percentage. Burnett has drawn a team best 12 walks and is second on the team with 15 stolen bases. In the circle, freshman Ava Laurent (6-0, 1.75 ERA) leads the way with 52.0 innings, 69 strikeouts and a team-low .191 opposing batting average. Laurent ranks among the MIAA leaders in victories, ERA and strikeouts redshirt senior Kiana Pogroszewski (6-1, 2.78 ERA) is second on the team with 45.1 innings and 35 strikeouts. senior Hannah Martin (4-0, 1.91 ERA), junior Bree Sexton (1-1, 2.10 ERA) and junior Chelsea Beville (1-0, 2.25 ERA) round out the pitchers used this season and can be utilized as starters or from the bullpen.
 
Golden Suns Report
Arkansas Tech is 11-5 overall and 3-3 in the Great American Conference (GAC) on the young season. The Golden Suns will be playing their first games at home this season against the Gorillas after going 2-2 on the road and 9-3 at neutral site games so far. Leading the team on offense is Shelby Chavers with a .387 average from 12 hits. Dani Lindsey is hitting .375 from 12 hits as well but has a team-high two triples. Lexi Gorniak is hitting .323 with a team-leading 11 RBI and tied for the team lead with four stolen bases. In the circle, Bradi Basler (6-1, 2.39 ERA), Alexis Findley (1-2, 3.04 ERA) and Aiden Dayberry (2-1, 5.35 ERA) have started games this season with Basler leading the team in innings pitched (41.0), strikeouts (38) and opposing batting average (.244).
 
Jennies Beware
Central Missouri is 6-5 heading into the weekend in the early part of the season the Jennies will be making their first true road games of the season against William Jewell on Tuesday before beginning MIAA play against PSU and MSSU. UCM was picked to finish in sixth one spot about the Gorillas in the MIAA Preseason Poll. Leading the charge on offense is Taylor Thompson with a .353 average with 12 hits, two triples and two home runs. Lexi Blackmon leads the team with nine RBI while hitting .222 and has stolen eight bases. Amanda Hansen (1-0, 2.15 ERA), Brooke Weimer (3-2, 2.20 ERA), Paige Petefish (1-1, 2.33 ERA) and Andi Siebeneck (0-1, 6.75 ERA) have started games in the circle this season with Weimer leading the team in innings pitched (28.2) and strikeouts (27).
 
Blue Tigers Farwell
Lincoln is 6-6 entering this week before they host Christian Brothers on Tuesday and begin MIAA action against MSSU and PSU Friday and Saturday. Picked to finish 14^th in their final MIAA Preseason Poll the Blue Tigers have gone 4-0 in true road games, 2-2 at home and 0-4 at neutral sites so far this season. On offense LU is led by Abbi Conrad hitting .400 with two home runs, seven RBI and five stolen bases. Maris Ollison is hitting .382 with a team-leading three home runs and 15 RBI. Leslie Callahan (.324) and Taylor Heimbaught (.313) round out the qualified hitters batting above .300. In the circle, Paige Rademann (2-3, 3.74 ERA), Mallorey Rogers (1-2, 4.13 ERA), Abby Pulliam (1-1, 2.47 ERA), Joss Marriott (0-0, 3.50 ERA), Kasey Kilburn (1-0, 5.88 ERA) and Maddie Sechrest (1-0, 6.56 ERA) have started game this season. Rademann leads the team with 24.1 innings of work while Rogers has struck out a team best 16 batters.