PITTSBURG – The Pittsburg State University softball team this weekend will travel down to Branson, Mo., to partake in the Branson D2 Battle Tournament, beginning on Thursday (Feb. 12) at the RecPlex Ballfields.
 
Scheduled to play against the University of Missouri – St. Louis at 2:00 p.m. (CST) on Thursday, before ending the day against Southern Nazarene University at 4:00 p.m. at Fritz Field. To end the tournament, the Gorillas are slatted to play against Christian Brothers University on Friday (Feb. 13) at 11:00 a.m. (CST) and end against Arkansas Tech University at 1:00 p.m. at Famous Dave's Field.
 
Coming into the tournament with a 9-0 record, the Gorillas are averaging 8.9 runs and 10.9 hits per game on offense while in the circle own a 1.57 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and .199 opponent batting average.
 
Heather Arnett leads the team with a .538 average, 21 hits, 16 runs scored, nine RBI and five stolen bases. Kadyn Trochim (.414) leads the team with 17 RBI with 12 hits and seven walks drawn. Sailor Hall (.412) leads the team with two home runs and in the circle is 2-0 with a 0.78 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in 9.0 innings. Alleyna Rushing (.394), Rachael Schlotter (.375) and Haili Igou (.321) round out the qualified hitters batting above .300 so far this season.
 
In the circle, Emma Crabb leads the team with a 3-0 record and 0.47 ERA in 15.0 innings, striking out 13 and holding opponents to a .154 average. Lexi Franklin (2-0, 1.83 ERA) in 15.1 innings has struck out 17 with one walk issued. Ava Laurent (2-0, 2.42 ERA) in 17.1 innings has struck out 13 batters while holding opponents to a .200 average.
 
UMSL (3-2) was picked to finish 10^th in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Preseason Coaches' Poll. Against MIAA opposition this season the Tritons have claimed a 6-2 win over Northwest Missouri (Feb. 1) and a 3-2 loss against Central Missouri (Jan. 31) at the Lone Star D2 College Classic. Gracie Philpot (.462) leads the team with six hits, Simia Spahiev (.400) has a team-high six runs scored, four doubles and eight RBI. Kiley Sullivan (.500), Kaytie Kossina (.444), Rylie Buchanan (.357), Jamie Widule (.357) and Phoebe Miller (.333) round out the qualified hitters batting above .300. In the circle, Ashley Borowitz (2-0, 1.27 ERA) leads the team with 11.0 innings and seven strikeouts with her .233 opponent batting average the highest among those with a start this season for UMSL.
 
SNU (3-4) was picked to finish fourth in the Great American Conference (GAC) Preseason Poll. So far the Crimson Storm are 1-3 against MIAA foes, with the lone win coming against Washburn (6-5, Jan. 30). As a team, SNU is hitting .201 with two members of the squad hitting above .300 that are qualified hitters. Eden Anderson (.375) leads the team with nine hits but has not scored yet in eight games played. Presley Brott (.348) has eight hits, three of which have been doubles and has scored twice so far this season. The Crimson Storm have used eight different pitchers in the circle, Baylee Sales is the team leader with 21.0 innings and 17 strikeouts with a .169 opponent batting average.
 
CBU (2-2) was tabbed 12^th in the Gulf South Conference (GSC) Preseason Poll. After the first week of action for the Buccaneers, CBU split doubleheaders against Henderson State and Miles College on the road. Mackenzie Gieseler leads the team with a .583 average, seven hits, five RBI and three runs scored. Emily Schooler leads the team in the circle with a 1.91 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 11 strikeouts in 11.0 innings while opponents hit .220.
 
Arkansas Tech (4-4) was selected to finish fifth in the GAC Preseason Poll. Against MIAA opposition, the Golden Suns are 1-3 with the lone win coming against Emporia State (3-2, Feb. 6) at the Alvy Early Memorial Classic. Aubree Jones leads the team with a .450 average, nine hits, seven runs scored and three home runs. Sharlee Jackson (.375) and Aly White (.304) are the other members of the team hitting above .300 entering the weekend. White in the circle is 3-1 with a 1.67 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in 21.0 innings of action, striking out 10 with three walks issued and a .247 opponent average.