PITTSBURG – The Pittsburg State University softball team will wrap up regular season action with a pair of home doubleheaders Wednesday (Apr. 24) and Saturday (Apr. 27).

The Gorillas will host Newman University Wednesday at 1 p.m. (CDT). Pitt State originally was scheduled to host the Jets Friday (Apr. 26), but the twinbill has been moved up due to the extended weather forecast. The Gorillas will entertain the University of Central Oklahoma Saturday at 1 p.m.

The Gorillas enter the weekend action with a 45-5 overall record and a 19-3 mark in MIAA play. Pitt State is ranked No. 9 in the most recent NFCA/NCAA Division II Top 25 poll. The Gorillas are currently tied for second place in the MIAA standings with No. 12 Rogers State University (36-10, 19-3 MIAA), one game behind No. 5 ranked Central Oklahoma (40-8, 20-2 MIAA) for the league lead.

Offensively, Pitt State is hitting .358 as a team and scoring 6.9 runs a game. In the circle, the Gorillas sport a 2.35 ERA as a staff while holding opponents to a .252 batting average and striking out 7.34 batters per 7 innings. Pitt State ranks sixth in batting average, 16th in strikeouts (per 7 innings) and 11th in scoring.
 
Individually, sophomore utility player Heather Arnett leads the team with a .457 average, 63 runs scored, 85 hits, seven triples and 49 stolen bases. She leads Division II stolen bases, ranks second for hits and runs scored, fifth in triples and 23rd in batting average.
 
Graduate infielder Hannah Burnett is hitting .433 with 60 runs scored, 68 hits, five triples, five home runs, 42 RBI and 28 stolen bases. Among Division II ranks, Burnett is sixth in runs scored, 22nd in hits, 33rd in stolen bases and 39th in batting average.
 
Senior infielder Maddie Fernandez (.381) and senior utility player Paxtyn Hayes (.358) are perched atop the team's RBI and home run leaderboards as Hayes leads both categories with 11 home runs and 59 RBI, Fernandez so far has belted 10 home runs and collected 47 RBI. Hayes ranks 12th in Division II for RBI this season.
 
Sophomore outfielder Alleyna Rushing is hitting .372 with 21 runs scored this season. Junior outfielder Courtney Storey (.352), redshirt junior infielder Kadyn Trochim (.328) and senior infielder Gabby Schultz (.308) round out qualified hitters batting better than .300.
 
In the circle, freshmen Ava Laurent (16-1, 1.96 ERA) is 19th in Division II ranks with 177 strikeouts. Laurent has limited opposing batters to a .198 average in 139.1 innings of work and owns a 1.06 WHIP.
 
Redshirt senior Kiana Pogroszewski (15-2, 3.00 ERA) has struck out 79 batters in 114.1 innings of work, issuing out only 17 walks for a 1.41 WHIP. Junior Chelsea Beville (7-1, 1.67 ERA) has struck out 49 batters in 37.2 innings with opponents batting .216 against her. Senior Hannah Martin (6-0, 2.59 ERA) has struck out 30 batters in 27.0 innings of work with opponents hitting .309 against her.

Newman enters Wednesday's action with a 20-30 overall record (6-16 MIAA). Offensively, the Jets are hitting .274 and scoring 4.1 runs a game. In the circle, the Jets carry a 6.00 ERA as a staff with 3.3 strikeouts a game and opponents hitting .349.

Hayley Bonython is the lone Jet hitting above .300 that is a qualified batter at .366 with 49 hits, 32 runs scored, 14 doubles, six home runs and 39 RBI. Kayla Lopez (.289) is second on the team with 25 runs scored and third with 41 hits. Gianna Navarro (.267) is second on the team with 43 hits and third in runs scored with 24. Lauren McNaught (.196) leads the team with seven stolen bases in as many attempts.

In the circle, Jackie Gold (11-10, 3.69 ERA), Kinyon DeCorte (5-8, 6.58 ERA) and Paola Zamacona (3-7, 7.00 ERA) are the most likely used starters and relievers. Gold leads the team with 121.1 innings, 87 strikeouts, 1.57 WHIP and opponents hitting .316. DeCorte in 67.0 innings has struck out 41 with opponents hitting .379 and Zamacona in 75.0 innings has struck out 23 and opponents hitting .355.

The Bronchos will face Missouri Southern State University in a Wednesday doubleheader at Joplin, Mo., starting at 3 p.m. before meeting up with the Gorillas Saturday. Offensively, UCO is hitting .324 and scoring 6.4 runs a game. In the circle, the Bronchos carry a 1.74 ERA as a staff with 4.1 strikeouts a game and opponents hitting .215.

Leading the offense, Terin Ritz is batting .396 with 53 hits, 46 runs scored, 17 home runs, 52 RBI and 32 walks drawn. Rylee Lemos is hitting .394 with a team-high 61 hits, 58 runs scored and 22 stolen bases. Jacee Minter is hitting .372 with 10 home runs and 60 RBI. Emily Deramus (.353), McKenna Johnson (.346), Shayleigh Odom (.326) and Rylee Anglen (.319) round out the qualified batters hitting above .300.

In the circle, Terin Ritz (19-4, 1.06 ERA) leads the team with 139.0 innings, 85 strikeouts, 0.91 WHIP and holds opposing batters to a .205 average. Shelby Beard (6-0, 1.46 ERA) and Jordyn Pipkin (14-3, 2.29 ERA) round out the most used pitchers this season by the Bronchos. Pipkin is second on the team with 107.0 innings and 69 strikeouts with opponents hitting .210 against her. Beard in 48.0 innings mostly in relief has struck out 33 batters and opponents are hitting .203 against her.

Following the weekend action, the Gorillas will travel to Edmond, Okla., to compete in the 2024 MIAA Championships beginning Thursday (May 2).