PITTSBURG - The Pittsburg State University softball team is scheduled to host the University of Minnesota State - Moorhead on Saturday (Mar. 8) in a non conference doubleheader beginning at 11:00 a.m. (CST) at the Pittsburg State Softball Field.

The Gorillas (20-1) completed the Top Gun Invite going 3-1 with wins over Truman State, Concordia - St. Paul and Rockhurst before suffering the first loss of the season to Winona State.

Ranked No. 22 in the most recent NFCA Division II Top 25 Poll, the Gorillas are led by Heather Arnett (.578) with 48 hits, 36 runs scored, 20 stolen bases and 17 runs driven in. Kadyn Trochim (.484) leads the team with 34 RBI on the season with 30 hits and 16 runs scored. Alleyna Rushing (.418) has collected 28 hits, 25 runs scored, recorded 12 RBI and stole 12 bases. Sailor Hall (.393) leads the team with five home runs and seven doubles with 22 total hits on the season and 19 runs scored. Racheal Schlotter (.342) and Lexi Davis (.300) round out the qualified hitters batting at or above .300.

In the circle, Ava Laurent (7-1, 2.47 ERA, 1.17 WHIP) leads the team with 45.1 innings pitched while opponents are hitting .190 against and have struck out 39 times. Lexi Franklin (4-0, 2.57 ERA, 1.10 WHIP) in 30.0 innings has struck out 29 with opponents hitting .237. Emma Crabb (6-0, 1.13 ERA, 0.80 WHIP) in 37.1 innings of work this season has accumulated 40 strikeouts while opponents are hitting .171 against her. Hall (3-0, 1.84 ERA, 1.11 WHIP) in 19.0 innings has only issued one walk to 17 strikeouts with opponents hitting .270.

MSUM (1-12) is slated to begin the weekend in Joplin, Mo., to play Missouri Southern in a doubleheader on Saturday (Mar. 7) before coming over to Pittsburg.

Riley McKeever leads the team with a .355 average from 11 hits while scoring three times and driving in a pair of runs. Lexi Wilson (.345), Teagan Pranchke (.323), Loie Moore (.303) and Kayla Roidt (.300) are the other members of the team batting at or above .300 so far this season. 

Teagan Clemmons (1-2, 5.15 ERA, 2.26 WHIP) in 17.2 innings of work in the circle has struck out 15 while issuing 12 walks and having opponents hit .341. Brynna Farman (0-4, 5.93 ERA, 1.70 WHIP) in 15.1 innings has struck out 11, issued seven walks and is currently allowing a .311 opponent batting average. Caitlin Kelley (0-5, 9.25 ERA, 2.49 WHIP) in a team-high 19.2 innings of work has issued seven walks with 10 strikeouts and a .442 opponent batting average.