PITTSBURG – The Pittsburg State University softball team will make the short trip to Joplin, Mo., to conclude the regular season against the Missouri Southern State University Lions on Saturday (Apr. 26).
 
Start time of the conference doubleheader will begin at Noon from the Pat Lipira Softball Complex.
 
Pittsburg State the No. 21 team in Division II in the latest Division II NFCA Top-25 Poll (Apr. 22) and No. 5 team in the latest NCAA Central Region Rankings, will enter the weekend with a 37-11 overall record and 18-4 in the MIAA to be tied atop the conference standings. The Gorillas completed the regular season with a 20-0 home record, extending the regular season home winning streak to 45 that began at the end of the 2023 season. On the road this season, PSU is 6-7 with a 6-4 record against MIAA opponents.
 
Leading the charge on offense is the reigning MIAA Hitter of the Week, Heather Arnett with a Division II leading .512 average from 87 hits. Arnett has scored 59 runs with 40 stolen bases, 29 runs driven in and 12 doubles this season. Alleyna Rushing is hitting .400 with 46 hits, 36 runs scored, 19 RBI and 16 stolen bases. Courtney Storey leads the team with 52 runs driven in while hitting .395 with 58 hits, 28 hits, 12 doubles, 10 stolen bases and four home runs. Amaya Snyder is hitting .350 with seven doubles and five home runs. Ava Sarwinski (.327), Kadyn Trochim (.312), Kendall Forbes (.310) and Emily Ades (.305) round out the qualified hitters batting above .300. Trochim leads the team with 12 home runs and is second on the team with 40 RBI. Sophia Driver is second on the team with eight home runs this season while hitting .308 in 78 at bats for 23 RBI.
 
Ava Laurent (16-4, 2.48 ERA) and Aydenne Brown (15-5, 2.91 ERA) lead the pitching staff as starters. Laurent in 129.2 innings has struck out 145 batters while holding opponents to a .197 average. Brown in 101.0 innings is holding opponents to a .202 average with 119 strikeouts. Chelsea Beville (2-2, 3 SV, 2.15 ERA), Jadyn Standeford (3-0, 1.62 ERA), Lexi Franklin (1-0, 1.31 ERA) and Shelby Underwood (0-0, 0.00 ERA) round out the pitching staff.
 
Missouri Southern enters the weekend with a 34-16 overall record, 14-8 in the MIAA to be tied for third in the MIAA standings and is the No. 9 team in the latest NCAA Central Region Rankings. At home this season the Lions are 18-4 on the year with losses against Washburn (Mar. 21), Emporia State (Mar. 22), Missouri Western (Apr. 7) and Northwest Missouri (Apr. 8).
 
Bailey Dillon is hitting .429 with 63 hits, 53 runs scored, 37 stolen bases, 21 RBI and 10 doubles. Katie Gray is the power bat in the lineup accounting for .619 of the team's home runs with 13. Gray is hitting .380 with 54 hits, 63 RBI, 31 runs scored and 13 doubles. Kylee Jacks is hitting .338 with 53 hits, 42 runs scored, 28 RBI and 26 stolen bases. Taylor Nuckolls is the other qualified hitter batting above .300 at .309 with 42 hits, 26 runs driven in, 24 runs scored and 15 stolen bases.
 
In the circle, Kiki Pickens is the ace of the team with a 17-5 record, 1.56 ERA, 0.87 WHIP in 138.2 innings with 147 strikeouts and a .168 opponent batting average. Avery Tallman (13-5, 2.21 ERA) the reigning MIAA Pitcher of the Week in 101.1 innings has a .251 opponent average and struck out 49 hitters while issuing only 19 walks. Kadence Janney (2-3, 2 SV, 3.10 ERA), NaTalia Sewell (0-1, 4 SV, 1.69 ERA), Lauren Fuller (2-0, 1.00 ERA) and Lily Rand (0-0, 7.00 ERA) round out the pitching staff.