PITTSBURG - Junior utility player Heather Arnett became the new career hits leader in Pittsburg State University history in game two of a Senior Day doubleheader sweep over Fort Hays State University on Friday (Apr. 18) at the Pittsburg State Softball Field, The No. 23 Gorillas claimed the sweep with scores of 7-1 and 7-3.

Pittsburg State (37-11, 18-4 MIAA) started game one of the twinbill quickly, a two-run home run by Courtney Storey in the first inning gave the hosts and early 2-0 lead. The Gorillas got runs in the next four innings to make it a 7-0 lead going into the sixth inning. Madison Pierce hit a solo home run in the sixth inning for Fort Hays State (23-19, 8-14 MIAA) to get on the board and provide the final scoreline. 

Seniors, Sophia Driver, Sophia Hoffmann, Ava Sarwinski, Storey and Kadyn Trochim each finished with two hits in game one. Ava Laurent (16-4) picked up the win with six strikeouts in as many innings before Chelsea Beville finished the game with a shutout seventh.

Arnett notched her 251st career hit leading off the Gorillas in the first inning or game two and would later score in the inning, as a team Pitt State would score three runs in the opening frame to jump out to an early 3-0 lead. The 3-0 lead would hold until the fourth inning where Fort Hays State scored three to tie it up, 3-3. Kendall Forbes led off the bottom half of the fourth inning with a double to left field before Alleyna Rushing singled her home to push Pittsburg State back ahead, 4-3. Senior Amaya Snyder collected her fifth home run of the season to end the scoring in the game with her three-run shot over the center field wall.

Jadyn Sandeford (3-0) picked up the win after 0.2 innings of work, Lexi Franklin pitched two shutout innings and Beville ended the game with her second shutout seventh inning of the day. Arnett was joined by Rushing, Storey and Snyder with two hits.

Up next for the Gorillas will be the Missouri Southern State University Lions on Saturday (Apr. 26) in Joplin, Mo., from the Pat Lipira Softball Complex beginning at Noon. The Lions currently have a 34-16 overall record, going 14-8 in the MIAA heading into the final conference doubleheader of the regular season.