PITTSBURG — The ninth ranked Pittsburg State University softball team will travel to Topeka and Emporia for in-state battles against No. 23 Washburn University Friday (Apr. 12) and Emporia State University Saturday (Apr. 13).
 
The top 25 match-up between the Gorillas and Ichabods will get underway at 4 p.m. (CDT) at Gahnstrom Field on the WU campus Friday. Saturday's twinbill against the Hornets has a Noon first pitch from the Trusler Sports Complex.
  
The Gorillas own a 38-4 overall record (12-2 MIAA) heading into the weekend action. Pitt State is ranked No. 9 in the most recent NFCA NCAA Division II Top 25 poll. The Gorillas currently sit in third place in the MIAA standings behind No. 4 Rogers State University (34-6, 17-1 MIAA) and No. 8 University of Central Oklahoma (33-7, 13-1 MIAA).
 
Offensively, Pitt State is hitting .366 as a team and scoring 7.0 runs per game. In the circle, the Gorillas sport a 2.21 ERA as a staff, while averaging 6.9 strikeouts per game and limiting opponents to a .256 batting average.
 
Individually, sophomore utility player Heather Arnett leads the team with a .481 average, 56 runs scored, 76 hits, seven triples and 42 stolen bases. She leads Division II in hits and stolen bases, ranks third in the country in runs scored and triples and ranks 16th nationally in batting average. Graduate infielder Hannah Burnett is hitting .442 with 52 runs scored, 57 hits, five home runs, 35 RBI, 24 walks drawn and 26 stolen bases. She ranks eighth in runs scored and 22nd in stolen bases among Division II rankings.
 
Senior infielder Maddie Fernandez (.366) and senior utility player Paxtyn Hayes (.359) are the squad's top home run hitters with Hayes belting a team-high 10 and Fernandez contributing nine long balls. Hayes also leads the squad with 51 RBI (12th in Division II) while Fernandez second on the team with 39. Sophomore outfielder Alleyna Rushing is hitting .431 with 15 runs scored this season. Junior outfielder Courtney Storey (.362), redshirt junior infielder Kadyn Trochim (.327) and senior infielder Gabby Schultz (.305) round out qualified hitters batting better than .300. Trochim is the reigning MIAA Hitter of the Week following her offensive prowess in a twinbill sweep of Missouri Southern State University last Saturday.
 
In the circle, freshman Ava Laurent (13-1, 1.87 ERA) is 14th in Division II ranks with 152 strikeouts. Laurent has limited opposing batters to a .195 average over her 116.0 innings pitched.
 
Redshirt senior Kiana Pogroszewski (12-1, 2.77 ERA) has struck out 67 batters in 96.0 innings of work and issued only 16 walks. Junior Chelsea Beville (6-1, 1.75 ERA) has struck out 36 batters in 28.0 innings with opponents hitting .243 against her. Senior Hannah Martin (6-0, 2.21 ERA) has struck out 29 batters in 25.1 innings of work.
 
No. 23 Washburn enters the weekend with a 34-10 overall record (15-5 MIAA). The Ichabods, who currently sit in fourth place in the MIAA standings, have won 11 straight games heading into the Friday action against the Gorillas.
 
Offensively, WU is hitting .326 and scoring 5.7 runs a game. In the circle, the Ichabods carry a 1.49 ERA as a staff with 6.5 strikeouts a game and a .212 opponent batting average.
 
Jaycee Ginter leads the team with a .432 average, 51 hits, five home runs, 36 RBI and 24 walks drawn. Alexis Tanguma is hitting .411 with 37 hits, 17 RBI and nine runs scored. Mariah Wheeler (.370), Hailey Neira (.369), Erin Boles (.333), Kaylee Wagner (.326) and Marrit Mead (.301) round out the qualified hitters batting above .300. Mead leads the team with 23 stolen bases in 25 attempts while also scoring a team-best 38 runs.
 
In the circle, the one-two punch of Sadie Walker (19-5, 1.10 ERA) and Ginter (15-5, 1.98 ERA) helps lead the charge. In 31 appearances this season, Walker has three saves, 140.0 innings pitched, 130 strikeouts and a .218 opposition batting average. Ginter has appeared in 27 games, pitched 120.1 innings, registered 137 strikeouts and limited opponents to a .210 average against her.
 
Emporia State enters the weekend with a 26-17 overall record (10-10 MIAA). The Hornets are currently ranked seventh in the MIAA standings. 
 
Offensively, ESU is hitting .317 and scoring 5.9 runs a game. In the circle, the Hornets carry a 3.95 ERA as a staff with 3.9 strikeouts a game and a .288 opponent batting average.
 
Alexis Dial leads the team with a .436 average, 58 hits, 17 doubles, eight home runs and 48 RBI while swiping 13 bases in 16 attempts. Bailey Flewelling is hitting .398 with 49 hits, 18 runs scored, 11 doubles, five home runs and 28 RBI. Lexi Williams is hitting .366 with 38 runs scored, 52 hits, four triples and 19 stolen bases in 22 attempts. Josie Harrison (.350) and Emma Furnish (.317) round out the qualified hitter batting above .300. Abbey Ward leads the team with 23 stolen bases in 25 attempts while scoring 38 runs with 39 hits and 12 doubles.
 
In the circle, Gracie Rabe (7-8, 2.79 ERA), Jordan Harrison (6-3, 4.54 ERA) and Jayda VanAckeren (8-2, 5.13 ERA) are the three most used pitchers this season. Rabe leads the staff with 95.1 innings of work and among the trio has the lowest opposing batting average at .284. Harrison has struck out a team leading 58 batters in 69.1 innings with a .287 opposing batting average and two saves. VanAckeren in 60.0 innings has issued 25 walks with 21 strikeouts and opponents hitting .314 against her.
 
Following the weekend action, Pitt State will face road doubleheaders against Northwest Missouri State University on Apr. 19 and Missouri Western State University on Apr. 20.