PITTSBURG - The fifth ranked Pittsburg State University softball team advances to the Central Region Pittsburg Pod championships after splitting the day against Augustana (S.D.) and Oklahoma Baptist at the PSU Softball Complex on Friday (May 10).
To begin the day the Gorillas faced Augustana (S.D.) with the Vikings claiming a 7-2 victory to snap the 26 home game winning streak for PSU and advance to championship Saturday.
For the game, PSU came away with 11 hits for two runs but 11 left on base. Paxtyn Hayes and Courtney Storey finished 2-of-4 and an RBI for both. Kiana Pogroszewski struck out one in 2.2 innings and Chelsea Beville in 3.1 innings struck out two.
Against Oklahoma Baptist, the Gorillas earned a 4-2 win over the Bisons to eliminate OBU and advance to championship Saturday.
Kadyn Trochim finished 2-of-4 with an RBI and Hannah Burnett led the team with two runs scored. Ava Laurent struck out one in 2.1 innings as Hannah Martin won her eighth game of the season with 4.2 shutout innings and two strikeouts.
Tomorrow the Gorillas will host Augustana (S.D.) at 11:00 a.m. (CDT) with Pitt State needing a win to force the decisive game of the Pittsburg Pod at 1:30 p.m.
Notes:
Heather Arnett became the first Division II player since Sara Keeny (Kutztown) and Makray Odom (Trevecca Nazarene) in 2019 to accomplish 100 hits in a season.
Hannah Burnett with 80 hits this season marks the first time in program history to have two batters (Heather Arnett) in a season have 80 or more hits.
Arnett (73) & Burnett (70) are the first set of teammates in MIAA history to score 70 or more runs in the same season. Arnett moved into second place in conference history, one behind current record holder Bree Beattie (Emporia State, 2006) and Burnett is now in fourth place among league history.
Paxtyn Hayes moved past Cheslyn Mitchell (2012-15) for second in team history for career doubles with 58. Hayes also moved into ninth in MIAA history for RBI in a season with 68 passing Amy Beverly (Missouri Western, 2005) and Bree Beattie, Emporia State (2006) today. Among MIAA career RBI ranks, Paxtyn moved past former PSU head coach Elizabeth Economon (Truman State, 2001-04) for fifth with 195 following today's performances.
Ava Laurent tied Michelle Martinez (2002) for fourth in team history for strikeouts in a season with 201.