PITTSBURG – The Pittsburg State University softball team is set to embark on its sixth NCAA Division II National Tournament appearance in team history this upcoming weekend in Edmond, Okla., at Gerry Pinkston Stadium.
Pitt State (38-14) earned the No. 5 seed for the Central Regional and will play the No. 4 seed and MIAA rival Rogers State (37-13) in the opening game of the regional on Thursday (May 8) at 3:30 p.m. (CDT). The two teams faced off most recently in the MIAA Softball Championships Semifinals, with the Hillcats prevailing 7-2 in Hays, Kan.
With an opening round win, the Gorillas will play the winner of the Central Oklahoma vs. Minnesota State - Mankato opening game on Friday (May 9) at 1:00 p.m. The winner of that semifinal game will then advance to Championship Saturday. If the Gorillas were to lose against Rogers State, they would play the loser of the UCO vs. MSUM game at 3:30 p.m. on Friday in an elimination game. The second elimination game of Friday will begin at approximately 6:00 p.m., pitting the winner of the first elimination game of the day against the loser of the 1:00 p.m. semifinal contest. Championship Saturday will begin at 1:00 p.m., with the "if necessary" game set for approximately 3:30 p.m.
Pittsburg State this season at a neutral site went 12-5 from tournaments in Conroe, Texas, Oklahoma City, Okla., Topeka, Kan., Shawnee, Kan., and Hays, Kan. Head coach
Josh Barnes in his first season leading the Gorillas has accomplished the most wins by a first year coach in program history and is the first to lead the team to a National Tournament berth. For his collegiate coaching career, Barnes is 259-175-1 (.595)
Heading into the regional,
Heather Arnett leads Division II in batting average (.500) and hits (92), while being seventh for runs scored (62), eighth for runs scored per game (1.19), 11th for stolen bases (40), 21st for stolen bases per game (0.77), 23rd for on base percentage (.525), 31st for stolen base percentage (.930) and 38th for total bases (120).
Courtney Storey is third in Division II for sacrifice flys (7), 27th for toughest to strikeout (.031), 31st for runs batted in per game (1.06) and 36th for runs batted in (53) while hitting .396 with 15 doubles and 11 stolen bases.
Other qualified hitters batting above .300 are
Alleyna Rushing (.373),
Kadyn Trochim (.307),
Kendall Forbes (.307) and
Ava Sarwinski (.303). Trochim leads the team with 12 home runs and is second on the team for runs batted in with 42.
In the circle,
Ava Laurent (16-6, 2.83 ERA) leads the pitching staff with 141.0 innings of work, 159 strikeouts, .203 opponent batting average and among qualified pitchers a 1.31 WHIP.
Aydenne Brown (15-6, 3.16 ERA) in 108.2 innings has struck out 128 batters with opponents hitting .213 and possesses a 1.35 WHIP.
Chelsea Beville (3-2, 3 SV, 2.51 ERA) is the most used reliever with 44.2 innings of work, 37 strikeouts, with opponents hitting .258.
No. 16 Rogers State (37-13) is making its fourth straight NCAA Division II National Tournament appearance and fifth since transitioning to Division II in seven years. The Hillcats historically have a 14-12 advantage when playing Pitt State, this season they are 1-2 with their win coming on Friday (May 2) in Hays, Kan.
Abbey Rogers leads the Hillcats with a .481 average, 78 hits, 17 doubles, 49 RBI, a .765 slugging percentage and a .540 on-base percentage, adding in 43 runs scored, nine home runs and 22 walks drawn. Kaylee Lyon is hitting .364 with 63 hits, a team-high 54 runs scored, 30 RBI, 15 doubles and 10 home runs. McKayla Carney leads the team with 37 walks drawn while hitting .338 with 48 hits, 42 runs scored, 11 doubles and 13 RBI. Chloe Bohuslavicky (.320) and Callie Yellin (.318) round out the qualified hitters batting above .300. Bohuslavicky has 10 home runs and 47 RBI to her name, while Yellin leads the team with 12 home runs and has 43 runs batted in.
Jade Sanders (14-7, 2.30 ERA) is the ace on the pitching staff with 143.1 innings of work, striking out 119 batters with a .230 opponent batting average and 1.27 WHIP. Harley Culie (18-5, 2.62 ERA) leads the team with 157.2 innings of work and 127 strikeouts while opponents are hitting .236 against her and holds a 1.29 WHIP.
No. 4 Central Oklahoma (46-8) will be making it's 16th appearance in the Division II National Tournament, making it to 11 of the last 13. The Bronchos historically are 27-22 against Pittsburg State, claiming both games of a doubleheader earlier this season and besting the Gorillas in their 2017 regional meeting.
Terin Ritz is one of the premier two-way stars in Division II, this season the MIAA Player of the Year is hitting .422 with 17 home runs and 72 runs batted in while possessing a 18-3 record in the circle from 136.2 innings of work, striking out 109 batters with opponents hitting .220 against her and has a 0.97 WHIP. Rylee Lemos is hitting .387 with 67 hits, 64 runs scored, 11 home runs, 41 runs batted in and 19 stolen bases. Ariah Mitchell (.375), Kennedy Clark (.338), Brooklyn Ryan (.336), Rylee Anglen (.323) and Emily Deramus (.309) round out the qualified hitters batting above .300.
In the circle Sydney Ward (10-2, 2.52 ERA) and Shelby Beard (12-3, 2.18 ERA) have excelled as either starters or relievers for UCO this season. Ward in 83.1 innings has struck out 68 batters with opponents hitting .252 against her with 21 walks issued for a 1.25 WHIP. Beard in 70.2 innings has allowed 24 walks and opponents to hit .234 against her for a 1.23 WHIP with 68 punch outs.
Minnesota State – Mankato (38-18) is making its 16th appearance in the Division II National Tournament this weekend. The Mavericks hold an 11-10 advantage over the Gorillas in the all-time series between the two schools. This season Pitt State split a pair of games in early-season tournament action, winning the first match-up before losing in the second game.
Leading the team on offense is Marina Carter with a .348 average, 48 hits, 25 runs scored and 19 stolen bases. Gianna Lara is hitting .333 with 55 hits, 14 doubles, six home runs and 40 runs batted in. Cheyenne Behrends (.311), Izzy Hycnar (.304) and Maddie Helin (.302) round out the qualified hitters batting above .300. Helin leads the team with seven home runs, adding in 16 stolen bases. Carly Kimmes (.269) leads the team with 24 stolen bases, 32 walks drawn, while scoring 40 runs.
In the circle, the Mavericks have the trio of Sailor Hall (13-5, 1.84 ERA), Brianne Stone (12-6, 1.92 ERA) and Maddie Oetzmann (6-6, 2.67 ERA) to choose from as starters or relievers. Hall leads the team with 114.0 innings of work, 84 strikeouts and among the qualified pitchers possesses a 1.08 WHIP with a .218 opponent batting average. Stone in 98.1 innings has a 1.10 WHIP with a .243 opponent batting average, striking out 69 with only 16 walks issued. Oetzmann in 70.2 innings has a 1.57 WHIP with a .299 opponent batting average and 59 punch outs.
