PITTSBURG – The Pittsburg State University softball team will return to tournament play this weekend at the UCO/OC Classic in Oklahoma City, Okla.
 
Games will start at 10:30 a.m. (CST) on Friday (Feb. 7) against Missouri S&T with the Gorillas ending the first day of competition at 12:45 p.m. against Southern Nazarene. On Saturday (Feb. 8), PSU will begin the day against Western New Mexico at 10:30 a.m. before ending the tournament with hosts Oklahoma Christian at 3:00 p.m. at Tom Heath Field.
 
Pittsburg State (3-2) was picked to finish third in the MIAA Preseason Poll in head coach Josh Barnes first season. Leading the Gorillas is Heather Arnett on offense with a .611 average, six runs scored, 11 hits and three doubles after the first weekend of play. Courtney Storey is hitting .500 with nine hits and is tied for the team lead with five RBI (Kadyn Trochim). Alleyna Rushing (.333), Kendall Forbes (.333) and Ava Sarwinski (.308) are the other qualified hitters batting above .300.
In the circle, Ava Laurent (2-1, 2.10 ERA) leads the team with 16.2 innings and is tied for the team lead for strikeouts (15). Aydenne Brown (1-1, 1 SV, 2.42 ERA) is tied with Laurent for the team lead in strikeouts (15) while pitching 8.2 innings as opponents hit .194 against her. Chelsea Beville (0-0, 0.00 ERA) has 6.2 innings of work and five strikeouts in the early going.
 
Missouri S&T is 0-5 after the first weekend of action, and were picked to finish ninth in the GLVC Preseason Poll. Leading the charge for the Miners is Allie Kelly with a .375 average, two doubles and two stolen bases. Trista Grobe is the other qualified hitter batting above .300 at .333 and leads the team with two RBI. Mia Miller (0-2, 1.47 ERA) leads the pitching staff with 19.0 innings of work and 10 strikeouts. Tinley Beecham (0-2, 8.08 ERA) and Julia Kanoy (0-1, 8.22 ERA) are the other starting pitcher for Missouri S&T so far, both have an opposing batting average above .300. Historically the Miners and Gorillas have battled 57 times with PSU holding a 38-19 advantage and winners of the last five games.
 
#20 Southern Nazarene (3-1) was picked to win the GAC in the Preseason Coaches Poll. The Crimson Storm are led by the first GAC Player of the Week, Liana Heshiki with a .615 average, four doubles and has five RBI. Eden Anderson is hitting .833 (5-of-6) with two doubles, six RBI and a home run. Kelsi Hilton (.500), Hailey Evans (.467), Kenedi Morelock (.444), Kristen Mullendore (.429) and Emma Swearingen (.429) are the other qualified hitters batting above .300. In the circle, Olivia Hernandez (1-1, 1.35) leads the team with 10.1 innings of work while holding opponents to a .194 average. Katelyn Woodard (2-0, 2.52 ERA) is the other starter and has struck out 11 in 8.1 innings and holds opponents to a .138 average. Pittsburg State leads the all-time series against SNU at 5-3 but has dropped the last two games.
 
Western New Mexico was picked to finish 14^th in the LSC Preseason Poll and are 3-2 after the first weekend of the season. Leading the Mustangs is Madeline Bleak (.538) with seven hits, one double, home run and four RBI. Lauryn Carbajal (.462) has six hits, two triples and four RBI to her name. Kaylee Hickman (.444), Hannah Martinez (.444), Abbi Markus (.444) and Nichole Armijo (.364) round out the qualified hitters batting above .300 currently. In the circle, Sophia De Anda (0-0, 8.40 ERA), Labraida Tenorio (1-2, 7.70 ERA) and Sophia Solano (1-0, 1.62 ERA) have started games this season with Tenorio leads the team with 10.0 innings and four strikeouts. This will mark the first time the two teams will play against each other.
 
#24 Oklahoma Christian (3-1) was picked to finish fourth in the LSC Preseason Poll and will play hosts all weekend. Leading the Eagles is Maci George (.600) with six hits and five RBI. Grace Anderson (.385), Kate Paulsen (.375), Kallie Rupp (.364) and Marti Yaerger (.333) round out the qualified hitters batting above .300 currently. This season in the circle, Anderson (1-1, 1.66 ERA), Jill Dickson (2-0, 3.00 ERA) and Payten Schibbelhute (0-0, 8.40 ERA) have started games. Anderson leads the pitching staff with 12.2 innings and 18 strikeouts. Historically the Eagles and Pittsburg State have battled nine times with OC leading in the all-time series 6-3 and winners of five of the last six matchups.