PITTSBURG – The Pittsburg State University softball team is set to begin the MIAA slate on the road against the University of Nebraska – Kearney Lopers and Fort Hays State University Tigers this weekend.
First pitch against UNK on Friday (Mar. 20) is set for 2:00 p.m. (CDT) at Dryden Park. Saturday (Mar. 21), FHSU will host the Gorillas at Fleharty Family Field beginning at Noon.
All-time against Nebraska – Kearney, Pittsburg State owns a 21-10 advantage and is 7-3 in the last 10 games. Against Fort Hays State, Pitt State owns a 38-30 advantage over the Tigers and are 5-5 in the last 10 games, with the Gorillas riding a five game winning streak against the Tigers.
Pittsburg State (26-1) are coming off a 4-0 weekend as hosts of the MIAA/NSIC Conference Challenge against the University of Sioux Falls Cougars and St. Cloud State University Huskies.
As a team, Pitt State is hitting .387 with .483 on base and .571 slugging percentage for a 1.054 OPS. The Gorillas have scored 243 runs (9.0) with 287 hits (10.6) while being issued 138 walks (5.1) and stealing 52 bases. In the circle, Pittsburg State owns a 2.17 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and .207 opponent batting average while striking out 167 hitters in 174.0 innings.
Leading the charge for the offense and riding a MIAA record 29 game hitting streak,
Heather Arnett (.571) this season has accumulated 60 hits, 45 runs scored, 25 RBI and 25 stolen bases.
Kadyn Trochim (.486) leads the team with 42 RBI from 36 hits, 10 being doubles.
Alleyna Rushing (.429) this season has 36 hits, 33 runs scored, 15 runs driven in and 14 stolen bases.
Sailor Hall (.373) is the leading power bat with eight home runs.
Lexi Davis (.360) is second on the team with 34 RBI and nine doubles on the season.
Rachael Schlotter (.353) rounds out the qualified hitters batting above .300 this season, recording 18 hits, 18 RBI and scoring 18 runs herself.
Ava Laurent (8-1, 2.66 ERA, 1.23 WHIP) in 52.2 innings has struck out 48 hitters while holding opponents to a .200 average.
Emma Crabb (8-0, 1.60 ERA, 0.81 WHIP) in 48.0 innings is holding opponents to a .174 average while striking out 47 batters.
Lexi Franklin (5-0, 2.71 ERA, 1.14 WHIP) has struck out 43 batters in 41.1 innings of work while holding opponents to a .222 average. Hall (5-0, 1.38 ERA, 1.07 WHIP) in 25.1 innings has struck out 25 hitters while issuing only two walks as opponents are hitting .255.
UNK (11-18) enters their first weekend of conference action and will serve as the first home games for the Lopers this season. As a team the Lopers on offense are hitting .233 with 3.2 runs scored per game. In the circle, UNK as a pitching staff own a 3.38 ERA with 1.67 WHIP and .315 opponent batting average.
Leading the charge on offense so far this season has been Zaria Brigham (.333) with 32 hits, 18 runs scored, eight doubles, two home runs and 13 runs driven in. Bailey Peterson (.321) and Gianna Galli (.319) are the other members of the team that are qualified hitters batting above .300. Galli leads the team with 18 RBI while only scoring three runs herself and Peterson is second on the team with 26 hits. Mary Chvatal (.269) leads the team with a .457 on base percentage that is boosted by a team-high 25 walks, Chvatal also leads the team with nine stolen bases in 10 attempts. Chloe Odle (6-4, 2.18 ERA, 1.35 WHIP) leads the pitching staff with 64.1 innings of work, 37 strikeouts and 27 walks issued to go with a .258 opponent average. Zakayia Fredrick (2-5, 4.38 ERA, 1.77 WHIP) in 46.1 innings has struck out 17 with 13 walks issued and a .347 opponent average. Teilar Fry (3-1, 2.30 ERA, 1.79 WHIP), Daniella Morillas (0-3, 1.81 ERA, 1.44 WHIP) and Jerzie Schindler (0-3, 6.90 ERA, 2.19 WHIP) are other potential pitchers the Gorillas could see.
FHSU (13-12, 2-2 MIAA) began their MIAA action last weekend (Mar. 13-14) at the University of Central Missouri Jennies and the Missouri Western State University Griffons, finishing with splits. As a team this season, the Tigers are hitting .320 with 5.8 runs scored on offense while as a pitching staff having a 4.63 ERA, 1.74 WHIP and .303 opponent batting average.
Hannah Green (.449) leads the team with 40 hits, 29 runs scored and 20 stolen bases in 22 attempts while adding in three triples and five runs driven in. Peyton Shepard (.412) is second on the team with 35 hits, 20 runs scored and 18 stolen bases in 21 attempts. Abbey Duarte (.338) leads the team with 24 RBI from 25 hits. Audrey Gillespie (.317), Lilly Mohr (.311) and Kaydawn Haag (.306) are the other members of the team that are qualified hitters batting above .300. Mohr leads the team with eight home runs and 10 walks drawn. In the circle Solana Carpenter (5-5, 3.25 ERA, 1.52 WHIP) has appeared in 16 games already with 13 starts for a team-high 71.0 innings and 55 strikeouts, as opponents are hitting .262 against her. Korryn Johnson (2-3, 5.08 ERA, 1.79 WHIP) and Claire Kirby (2-2, 5.46 ERA, 1.86 WHIP) are the most likely to be the second starter against Pitt with Johnson accumulating 20.2 innings and 16.2 innings so far this season. Myah Wolfe (0-0, 5.25 ERA, 1.94 WHIP), Mackenzie Hudson (2-1, 6.60 ERA, 2.06 WHIP), Abbey Duarte (2-0, 4.94 ERA, 1.68 WHIP) and Kamaya Soniea-Harris (0-1, 11.90 ERA, 2.40 WHIP) are the other options for the Tigers in the circle this season, with everyone pitching at least 10.0 innings so far.
