PITTSBURG – The Pittsburg State University softball team will hit the road for the first time in April this weekend against Northeastern State University and the University of Central Missouri.
 
Game time against the RiverHawks is set for Noon on Friday (Apr. 11) at the RiverHawks Park. Saturday (Apr. 12) the Jennies will play host to the Gorillas beginning at 2:00 p.m. (CDT) at the South Recreation Complex.
 
Entering the weekend Pittsburg State is 31-9 overall and 12-2 in the MIAA to be tied atop the conference standings. Ranked No. 23 in the most recent NFCA Coaches Poll, PSU is 4-5 on the road this season with a doubleheader sweep against No. 8 Rogers State University (Mar. 28) last time out.
 
Leading the charge on offense is Heather Arnett with a .525 average, 74 hits, 52 runs scored, 33 stolen bases, 24 runs driven in and 10 doubles. Alleyna Rushing is hitting .430 with 43 hits, 33 runs scored, 17 runs driven in and 16 stolen bases. Courtney Storey (.420) leads the team with 46 RBI this season, adding in 50 hits, 10 doubles and seven stolen bases. Amaya Snyder (.358), Emily Ades (.328), Ava Sarwinski (.326), Kadyn Trochim (.316) and Kendall Forbes (.309) round out the qualified hitters. Trochim leads the team with 11 home runs and is second on the team with 37 runs driven in.
 
In the circle the duo of Aydenne Brown (13-4, 2.77 ERA) and Ava Laurent (13-4, 2.81 ERA) lead the pitching staff. Brown in 83.1 innings of work has struck out 100 batters and limits opponents to a .205 average. Laurent leads the team with 104.2 innings, 109 strikeouts and a .202 opponent batting average. Chelsea Beville (2-1, 2.36 ERA), Jadyn Standeford (2-0, 1.75 ERA), Lexi Franklin (1-0, 1.50 ERA) and Shelby Underwood (0-0, 0.00 ERA) round out the staff.
 
Northeastern State enters the weekend with a 14-28 overall record, going 7-13 in the MIAA to sit in 11^th. At home this season the RiverHawks are 2-10, claiming a 2-0 win over Central Missouri (Mar. 28) and 4-0 decision against Southeastern Oklahoma (Apr. 1).
 
Korynn Tindel leads the team with a .378 average, 29 runs scored, five home runs, five triples and 18 stolen bases while adding in 22 runs driven in. In the circle, Tindel is 2-5 with a 4.06 ERA in 31.0 innings, striking out nine with 16 walks issued and a .299 opponent batting average. Maddie Messenger is averaging .344 with 43 hits, 23 runs driven in, 11 doubles and four home runs. Lauryn Heinle is hitting .330 with 30 hits, seven doubles. Madison Nance is the other qualified hitter batting above .300 at .304. Madison Heinle is another utility pitcher, hitting .280 with 21 RBI and in the circle has a 6-9 record with a 4.95 ERA in 82.0 innings, striking out 45 with a .307 opponent batting average. Gracie Turner (4-7, 4. 18 ERA) is the other starting pitcher for NSU with 92.0 innings of work, 39 strikeouts, 36 walks issued and a .291 opponent average.
 
Central Missouri will begin the weekend with a 22-14 overall record and a 9-7 showing in the MIAA to be tied for fifth in the league standings. 8-2 at home this season the Jennies have lost to the University of Lincoln – Missouri (Mar. 11) and Northwest Missouri (Mar. 18).
 
Leading the charge on offense Taylor Thompson is hitting .368 with 43 hits, 36 runs driven in, 14 doubles and five home runs. Bailey Brumley is hitting .351 with 30 runs driven in and nine doubles. Jadyn Sheffield is averaging .330 with 38 hits and 28 runs scored. Lexi Blackmon (.325), Aly Hageman (.324) and Marisa Johnson (.324) round out the qualified hitters batting above .300.
 
Brooke Weimer (9-6, 2.21 ERA) leads the pitching staff with 101.1 innings, 127 strikeouts and opponents hitting .160 against her. Emily Brouse (7-3, 3.60 ERA) and Andi Siebeneck (5-5, 3.36 ERA) are the other pitchers most frequently used. Brouse in 81.2 innings has 87 strikeouts and holds opponents to a .235 average. Siebeneck in 41.2 innings leads the team with two saves and has struck out 23 batters while limiting opponents to a .287 average.