St. Joseph, Mo. - The ninth ranked Pittsburg State University softball team swept aside Missouri Western State University (10-9 in 8 Inn., 6-4) at the Griffon Softball Field on Saturday (Apr. 20).
Pitt State (45-5, 19-3 MIAA) claimed game one, 10-9 in eight innings behind a late game rally to down the Griffons (26-18. 10-12 MIAA). Down two heading into the seventh, the Gorillas got runs from Gabby Schultz (Gardner, Kan.) and Amaya Snyder (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) to tie it up before Maddie Fernandez (San Antonio, Texas) hit her 10th home run of the season in the eighth to ultimately win the game. Fernandez finished 3-of-4 with four RBI, Paxtyn Hayes (Greenwood, Ark.) went 2-of-5 with two RBI and Hannah Burnett (Independence, Kan.) led the team with three runs scored. Ava Laurent (Grand Island, Neb.) struck out seven in 4.1 innings of work in a no-decision, Chelsea Beville (Seneca, Mo.) picked up her seventh win of the season striking out four in 3.0 innings of relief.
In game two the Gorillas got a lead early and never relinquished it en route to the 6-4 victory to claim the ninth conference sweep of the season. Burnett led the team with two RBI while Heather Arnett (Pittsburg, Kan.) put in a record breaking performance. Arnett broke the Pitt State season runs scored record in the first inning and with her third stolen base of the game in the fourth inning broke the career record for stolen bases at PSU. Kiana Pogroszewski (Ephraim, Utah) picked up her 15th win of the season striking out three in 6.0 innings as Beville earned her third save of the season striking out two in her lone inning of work.
Up next for Pittsburg State University is a home weekend to end the regular season against Newman (Apr. 26) and No. 6 Central Oklahoma (Apr. 27). The Gorillas have mathematically locked up a top-four MIAA finish this season and will await to see who they will begin the MIAA Tournament against following the conclusion of the regular season.
Notes:
With 45 wins on the season the 2024 team has moved into second place for overall wins in a season at Pittsburg State, passing the 2004 team that finished 44-23. The 19 wins in MIAA play this season is tied with the 2016 team (19-7) for the school record for conference wins in a season.
Heather Arnett broke the Pittsburg State career stolen base record previously held by Brenna George, 74 (2011-14) and the season runs scored record previously held by Tiffany Brown, 61 (2014). Arnett moved past Jerri Kious (1996) and Tera Swartslander (2005) to be second in season hits at PSU with 85. She is also now tied with Ali Jo Rogers (UCM, 2015) for second in season stolen bases from an MIAA student-athlete with 49.
Paxtyn Hayes moved into third in career hits at Pitt State with 225 to move past Ashley Loncarich (2003-06) and Cheslyn Mitchell (2012-15) following her performances this weekend. Hayes also moved into a tie with Gregan Ketcham (2003-06) for ninth in career runs scored with 125.
Ava Laurent following this weekend's performances moved into sixth for season strikeouts by a Gorilla pitcher with 177 and is now third among program freshman ranks.
