PITTSBURG – The Pittsburg State University softball team will resume the season with the Washburn Invitational in Topeka, beginning on Sunday (Feb. 23) at Gahnstrom Field.
 
Picked the finish third in the MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll, the Gorillas are 6-3 on the season. Courtney Storey leads the team with a .516 average with 16 hits and seven RBI. Alleyna Rushing is hitting .474 with nine hits, an inside the park home run and five RBI. Heather Arnett is hitting .455 with 10 runs scored, 15 hits, four doubles and five stolen bases. Ava Sarwinski is the other Gorilla that is a qualified hitter to bat above .300 at .333. In the circle, Aydenne Brown (3-1, 2.78 ERA) has 28 strikeouts in 22.2 innings and limits opponents to a .169 average. Ava Laurent (3-2, 3.04 ERA) leads the team with 27.2 innings and has 25 strikeouts while opponents hit .245 against her.
 
Minnesota State – Mankato
Picked to finish third in the Northern Sun Untercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Preseason Coaches' Poll, the Mavericks enter the weekend at 2-2 overall. Gianna Lara leads the team with a .545 average with the lone home run of the season for the team. Cheyenne Behrends is hitting .417 with five hits, to round out the qualified hitters batting above .300. Sailor Hall (0-0, 2.71 ERA) leads the pitching staff with 10.1 innings pitched and nine strikeouts. Maddie Oetzmann (1-0, 2.74 ERA) is second on the team with 7.2 innings and seven strikeouts.
 
Maryville University
Selected sixth in the Grat Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Preseason Poll, the Saints are off to a 6-3 start. Jenna Kosnoff leads the team with a .448 average, 13 hits, three home runs and nine RBI. Emily Corona is hitting .367 with 12 runs scored, 11 hits, two triples, and nine stolen bases in as many attempts. Addison Koth is hitting .321 with nine hits, two home runs and nine RBI. Cora Boyle (3-1, 2.03 ERA) and Chayse Ramey (3-2, 2.10 ERA) are the two starters in the circle, with both pitching over 20 innings so far. Ramey leads the team with 25 strikeouts and holds opponents to a .206 average.
 
Concordia – St. Paul
Picked to finish second in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll, the Golden Bears enter the weekend with a 1-3 record. Alexis Monty is hitting .385 with three RBI to lead the team. Sydney Pelzer is the other qualified  hitter to average above .300  at .333. Tatum Dunlavy (1-1, 5.25 ERA) leads the team with 10.2 innings while issuing 12 walks.